Plans submitted for more than 200 new homes in Scottish town

A major application for around 200 new houses in the village of Maddiston will come to Falkirk Council’s planning committee next week.

Developer Manor Forrest is seeking planning permission in principle to build the new homes on an area of open grassland to the north of 41 Kings Seat Place, Glendevon Drive, Maddiston.

The report going before councillors notes that 230 objections have been submitted to the plans, along with three responses in support and two neutral submissions.

Planning officers are recommending to councillors that they refuse the proposal, as the site is not included in Falkirk’s local development plan due to concerns about the scale and pace of growth in the Maddiston area.

Those objecting to the plans have raised several issues including the local primary school being at capacity; pressure on local amenities and community facilities; loss of recreation space; the impact on ecology and wildlife; and road safety fears due to increased traffic.

The three supportive letters say the proposal would be good for the area and would create jobs within the construction industry.

The application has already been the subject of two pre-determination hearings, in January 2023 then in October 2024, following a long delay while a dispute over a separate development in West Lothian went to the Court of Session.

Councillors will now consider the application at a meeting of Falkirk Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, January 14.