Plans for Falkirk’ s new town hall – which is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors a year – are taking shape, although the cost of the project has risen in the five years since it was first agreed.
A report to members of Falkirk Council’ s executive says the new venue is now expected to cost nearly £70 million to build but estimates it will be worth £3.38 million to the local economy every year.
The new building – on the site of the former Callendar Square shopping centre – will have a 550-seat theatre designed to host touring theatre and musical shows and popular comedians, as well as local amateur productions.
Read more: NHS Forth Valley asks visitors not to come to hospital if unwell as flu cases rise
There will also be an auditorium where council meetings can take place, which would also double as a studio space for rehearsals, smaller concerts and a wide range of community activities.
The venue will also also include a new library, cafe and a Falkirk Council advice and support hub as well a small number of offices.
The intention is to create a lively and safe space that will busy not just during the day but also at night, “with theatre and music performances, smaller venues, an outdoor bandstand, along with restaurants and bars”.
The decision to replace Falkirk’s ageing town hall was taken by councillors in 2019 but it took members three years just to agree on a location for the new venue.
They also agreed to set aside £45 million for the project, which was to be Falkirk Council’s contribution to the local Growth Deal, adding to a promised £110 million of government funding.
Since the start of last year, work has been ongoing to demolish the old shopping centre and hotel.
But since 2019 construction costs have risen sharply and the report admits that there will be a shortfall in funding of around £16 million.
The new projected cost of £69.84 million includes £5 million to account for further inflation and £2 million to improve the public areas outside the new building.
Officers are asking councillors to approve using service concessions – money that is made available by changes to how councils pay for privately built schools – to make up the difference.
The hope is that the new venue will be the centrepiece of the town centre masterplan which aims to attract local people as well as tourists and visitors from other towns.
The report states: “The venue will act as a real catalyst for economic vibrancy for our high street and beyond.”
“The importance of this venue to the future of the High Street cannot be underestimated, with previous economic impact assessments forecasting a benefit to the local economy of approximately £3.38m in Gross Value Add per year – equivalent to £84.5m over the first 25 years of operation.”
Since 2019, the plans for the building have also changed significantly.
While initially the intention was to build a new headquarters with office space for 300 staff, the pandemic has seen many continue to work from home and refurbished offices in Larbert and Falkirk Stadium now accommodate staff.
The report also acknowledges that the running costs will be around £1.5 million a year as the library, advice hub and civic chambers will not generate income.
However, they say work is ongoing to reduce these costs and increase income to offset at least some of the costs.
Malcolm Bennie, Director of Place Services at Falkirk Council, said: “The new Falkirk Town Hall is the key to unlocking lasting regeneration of the town centre by adding significant new footfall to the high street, as well as securing the recently agreed £148m Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal.
“The venue would provide a regional home for creative productions like touring theatre, music and popular comedians, create an accessible environment for the civic functions of the Council, host a stunning new library and learning hub for all ages, and a modern café and bar area for the general public to gather.
“These improvements are predicted to bring hundreds of thousands of extra visitors to the town centre which would be worth more than £3m in growth every year. This impact, in addition to the benefits flowing from the £148m Growth Deal make this a worthwhile investment for the future of the whole of the Falkirk area.
“It is now up to councillors to consider if our team can go out and engage with the public, business and local stakeholders such as amateur production groups to ensure the end vision fully matches the needs of the local area. If agreed, then a full business case on the Town Hall would come back for approval in 2025/26.”
Falkirk Council has released images of how the new building might look but they add that the design is at “a very early conceptual stage and will evolve further as the design develops and technical appraisals progress”.
At the Executive meeting, councillors will be asked to approve a public consultation on the new venue to give residents and businesses the opportunity to give their views on what the venue should offer and inform the final design.
Falkirk Council’s executive meets on January 23 at 10 am in Grangemouth Community Education Unit, Abbots Road, Grangemouth. The meeting will also be livestreamed on Falkirk Council’s YouTube channel.
For more Falkirk stories, sign up to our newsletter here.