How should our places grow? Local people invited to have their say
Falkirk Council has launched the next stage of work on the Local Development Plan (LDP3) and is asking residents what matters most for their towns, villages and neighbourhoods.
The proposed plan, once approved, will act as the blueprint for how land is used - deciding where homes and businesses can be built, how services are supported, how people get around, and how green spaces are protected and improved.
This stage of consultation, ‘How should our places grow?’, builds on the earlier ‘Tell us about your place?’ survey and a 'Call for Sites and Ideas' from landowners, businesses and communities. It now turns the focus to local people’s priorities, which will directly shape the draft plan due in 2026.
Once adopted, the LDP3 will guide planning decisions for developments across the whole Council area from 2028 to 2038, and beyond.
The survey is open until Friday 21 November 2025.
Themes
The consultation focuses on the five strategic themes of the proposed LDP3:
- 🏘️Place and wellbeing: regenerating town centres, redeveloping vacant land, improving neighbourhood services, parks and historic places.
- 🌳Climate and nature: tackling climate change and protecting the environment, including flood risk management, woodland, peatland and renewable energy.
- 🏠Homes: whether new housing should focus on brownfield land, larger developments with new facilities, smaller sites within existing areas, or conversion of vacant buildings, as well as views on affordability and types of homes.
- 🛣️Infrastructure: priorities for investment in transport, education, healthcare, community and cultural facilities.
- 💼Business and economy: supporting jobs and investment, including industrial land, town centres, offices, tourism and the visitor economy.
In-person events
Residents can also speak with council planners and share their views at drop-in sessions held in local libraries this month (October) and November 2025.
A special drop-in session aimed at students and staff at Forth Valley College has also been organised.
| Location | Date | Time |
| Denny Library | Thursday 23 October | 4pm to 8pm |
| Slamannan Library | Thursday 23 October | 4pm to 7pm |
| Bo’ness Library | Monday 27 October | 4pm to 8pm |
| Falkirk Forth Valley College | Wednesday 29th October | 11am to 3pm |
| Bonnybridge Library | Thursday 30 October | 4pm to 8pm |
| Grangemouth Library | Thursday 30 October | 4pm to 8pm |
| Falkirk Library | Monday 3 November | 4pm to 8pm |
| Meadowbank Library | Thursday 6 November | 4pm to 8pm |
| Larbert Library | Monday 10 November | 4pm to 8pm |
Cllr Paul Garner, Falkirk Council’s spokesperson for Economic Development:
Planning decisions shape the places we live, work and spend our time. This stage of consultation is about asking residents what they value most, and how they want their communities to develop in the future. The responses will inform the proposed Local Development Plan, due in 2026, which will set out where growth happens and how we respond to challenges such as housing demand, climate change and economic transition.
What’s been suggested already
Earlier this year, a ‘Call for Sites’ invited landowners and developers to highlight areas of land for potential, future development. More than 90 potential sites were submitted. You can see the sites on our interactive map.
At the same time, a ‘Call for ideas’ invited individuals, community groups and organisations to share their priorities. Over 40 ideas came forward, ranging from investment in schools and playparks to protecting green belt land and heritage sites.
No decisions have been made at this stage on which sites or ideas will be taken forward into the proposed plan.
For more information on the LDP3, visit our website.