A housing project that will create 1500 new homes in Falkirk has been given the green light by councillors.

The homes will be built just outside Whitecross near Linlithgow on a former brickworks site. As well as homes, a new primary school will be built along with a business park that will create 2200 jobs.

Falkirk Council granted planning permission to development company Morston Assets last week and work on the site has already started with people moving into the homes in December 2012.

As well as the homes, a hotel will be built on the banks of the Union Canal with the aim of pulling tourism into the area.

The council is supporting the project as part of an aim to regenerate the small village of 820 people.

David Dodge, chief executive at Morston Assets, 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.”

Morsten, founded by Sir Tom Farmer in 1991, is also working on developments in Edinburgh and Glasgow.