Falkirk Council has approved plans to replace the outdated Camelon Education Centre with a new, modern modular community building. The decision ensures local activities and services will continue to have a base in Camelon, while addressing the financial non-viability of the current site.

The existing 4,465m² centre was deemed unsuitable for modernisation under a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) model after detailed surveys revealed an estimated £3.3 million in backlog maintenance costs, significant annual running costs, and an energy rating of G.

Financial and Environmental Benefits

The approved alternative involves installing a modern, energy-efficient modular unit on the current site. This move is projected to deliver:

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• Annual Savings: The closure of the old centre will result in a saving of £278,510 per year.

• Funding: The £300,000 cost of the new unit will be covered by the Council’s Strategic Property Review (SPR) £3 million Enabling Fund.

• Net Zero: The project aligns with the Council's SPR goal to reduce the number of older, inefficient buildings, contributing to a projected 15 per cent reduction in the Council’s carbon emissions.

Next Steps for the Community

The Camelon Management Committee has already entered into a full repairing and insuring licence for part of the existing centre to manage activities during the transition. The new modular unit is scheduled to be procured and installed in 2026.

Once the new facility is operational and the old building is closed, the management committee will progress with a CAT application for the new, modern space. The Council is also supporting the relocation of the Phoenix Boxing Club, currently based in the centre's Olympic Hall, to the Mariner Centre.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council, stated that the approach "provides best value while ensuring Camelon still has a place for people to come together... The new facility will give the community a modern, manageable space that can be shaped around their needs for the future."