2,200 jobs to be created at Whitecross development
AROUND 2,200 jobs and £90m will be added to the local economy as a result of the transformation of Whitecross.
These are the figures from developers Morston Assets who were delighted after plans for the ‘Yours Whitecross’ project were given the green light by Falkirk Council last week.
The authority has agreed to the transformation of the former brickworks creating 225 homes, a new primary school and community facilities, including an enterprise centre. Investment will also go ahead for the new neighbourhood retail centre and over £500,000 will be invested in roads, provide play areas and improve the existing sports ground.
A study of the proposed community carried out by consultants Roger Tym and Associates found that the ‘employment generating space’ in the development will provide 2,200 jobs and add £90m to the output of the local economy.
Chief executive David Dodge said: “The granting of this permission demonstrates how Falkirk Council and the Whitecross community have accepted the principles behind this project. We have worked hard, over a number of years, to promote this scheme and to show how it delivers on our principles of good homes, good jobs and good neighbours.”
Demolition has started at the Manuel Works site due to be completed this October, when engineering, road and sewer construction will start.
It is thought building work on the first houses will begin in 2012 and be complete by December of that year.
The upgraded sports pitches and Yours Business Networks will be ready from December 2012 and the new primary school is planned to open in September 2014.
Over the course of the regeneration project it is expected that 4,334 temporary construction jobs will be created.
The council permission also included the go-ahead for the canal based tourist destination on adjacent land, bordering on the Union Canal.
A hotel will be built with the potential to deliver 80 leisure related jobs and an estimated economic output of over £2m.
Yours Whitecross is the latest in a series of major regeneration schemes from Morston Assets, jointly owned by former Kwik-fit tycoon Sir Tom Farmer CBE and by property entrepreneur Tom Harrison.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Queensferry
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.