Forth Valley Royal Hospital
The Development Management Unit is responsible for processing and determining planning applications and related applications such as listed building consent, conservation area consent, and advertisement consent.
It also has a role in investigating breaches of planning control and making sure that developments are carried out with the necessary consents.
The underlying objective is to promote sustainable and high quality new development, and to manage the development process with this end in mind. The primary role of planning should not be to stop development happening - it should be to foster the right development in the right places.
Proposed Changes to Householder Permitted Development Rights
Changes are being introduced which will remove the need for obtaining planning permission for various types of householder development. We will produce guidance which you will be able to download, but we will still be available to discuss your proposals with you on our duty telephone line - 01324 504748. Check here regularly for updates.
Coal Mining Development Referral Area - Is your planning application affected?
The Coal Authority has defined new Coal Mining Development Referral Areas. These are areas, based upon Coal Authority records, where the potential land stability and other safety risks associated with former coal mining activities are likely to be greatest. This will affect how we consider planning applications.
If your development project is located within such an area, you may have to include a coal mining risk assessment report with your planning application.
The new process allows the Coal Authority to become more proactively involved at an early stage in cases likely to need extra attention in terms of addressing potential mining-related hazards.
Coal mining has taken place widely throughout the Falkirk Council area. It is likely that a large number of local applications could be affected. Although the rules don't apply to householder developments like extensions, garages and alterations to individual houses, the Coal Authority still recommends that within the referral area, information outlining how former mining activities affect proposed developments, along with any mitigation measures required, should be submitted along with any subsequent application for Building Standards approval.
If you are in any doubt about whether or not your application is likely to be affected, please contact us on 01324 504748. We will be happy to help.
Full guidance on the processes and procedures can be found on the Department of Energy & Climate Change website|.
A map (PDF, 5MB)| of the Coal Mining Referral Area as it applies to the Falkirk Council Area can be viewed and downoaded.
Frequently Asked Questions
See our FAQ page| for more information on Development Management and Planning Applications.
How are we doing?
We always welcome your feedback on our performance. Whether you've had a good or bad experience of the Development Management service provided by the Council, please let us know using our Customer Survey|.