Green light plea for an ideal home town

The proposal to build 1,200 homes, a school, health centre, sports hall and factory space, backed by the Kwit-Fit tycoon, Sir Tom Farmer, may be given the green light by councillors.

The 150 million plans seek to rebuild the community of Whitecross, near Linlithgow, which has suffered from a series of economic setbacks, including the the closure of a brickworks and loss of 1,200 jobs.

It is thought redevelopment of the area, which comes under Falkirk Council, could also relieve some of the housing pressure on Edinburgh and commuter towns.

Falkirk councillors are now set to decide on whether to alter the local structure plan, which would allow a full planning application to be made.

The bid, forwarded by Morston Assets - a Norfolk-based property developer of which Sir Tom is a co-owner - would be based on the principles of the model villages built under 19th-century philanthropists such as the chocolate heir George Cadbury, who build Bournville village near Birmingham, and Robert Owen, the mill owner behind New Lanark.

Under the proposals, those living in the new area would be able to buy a 1 share in the management company responsible for running the village, helping to create a sense of community and local responsibility.

The 125-acre development would see 1,200 properties built across 125 acres, offering homes to all sectors of the potential community, from 500,000 luxury houses to rented flats affordable to those in low incomes.

David Dodge, of Morston Assets, said: "This is one of the most significant developments of its kind in Scotland and looks at the whole picture, from employment to living, well-being, and leisure.

"It is important to develop sustainable communities and we would like to bring jobs and stability to an area that has seen economic problems.

"On the whole everyone has been very receptive to the idea behind the plans and we have had a lot of interest.

"The main task for now is to get the alteration to the local plan. That, in turn, will allow us to make the planning application."

Willie Dunn, economic convenor of West Lothian Council, said: "This development is of huge strategic importance to the area. The actual site is across the border in Falkirk but it would have an important effect on our area, too. It would relieve some of the pressure on Linlithgow, where there is a very high demand for housing and expansion.

"We are in the process of discussing an extra motorway exit from the M8 in response to development in the area. With house prices and the cost of expansion in Edinburgh being now so high, West Lothian stands to reap some of the economic benefits."

Rhona Geisler, director of development services at Falkirk Council, said: "This is one of the most important issues we have had to deal with. It is of major importance to the area.

"Any changes to the structure plan must take into account the wider economic issues of the area, including infrastructure. We need to consider the extra demand that will be placed on local schools and on services such as roads, electricity and water."

Among the ambitious plans for Whitecross is that it should be a sanctuary free of crime and other social problems - with its own policing, transport and refuse collection.

Free bus transport around the area and CCTV cameras are among the proposals, aimed at creating "a sense of community".