Falkirk Council has initiated the critical next phase of developing its Local Development Plan (LDP3), urging residents to share their priorities for the future of their towns, villages, and neighbourhoods. Once approved, the LDP3 will serve as the official blueprint guiding all land use and planning decisions for the Council area from 2028 to 2038 and beyond.

This stage of the consultation, titled ‘How should our places grow?', is focused on gathering public priorities that will directly inform the draft plan, which is due for publication in 2026. This follows earlier stages which included the 'Tell us about your place?' survey and a 'Call for Sites and Ideas' that yielded over 90 potential development sites and more than 40 community ideas.

The current consultation is centred around five strategic themes designed to shape the area's growth:

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1. Place and wellbeing: Focusing on the regeneration of town centres, the redevelopment of vacant land, and improvements to existing services, parks, and historic places.

2. Climate and nature: Addressing essential topics such as tackling climate change, environmental protection, flood risk management, and the development of woodland, peatland, and renewable energy resources.

3. Homes: Seeking feedback on where new housing should be prioritised—whether on brownfield land, as part of larger developments with new facilities, on smaller sites within existing areas, or through the conversion of vacant buildings. Views are also sought on housing types and affordability.

4. Infrastructure: Identifying priorities for future investment across essential services like transport, education, healthcare, community, and cultural facilities.

5. Business and economy: Supporting job creation and investment, including plans for industrial land, town centre usage, offices, and boosting the tourism and visitor economy.

Residents have the opportunity to engage directly with council planners and share their opinions at several in-person drop-in sessions being held in local libraries throughout October and November 2025. A special session has also been arranged for staff and students at Forth Valley College.

The Council has confirmed that no final decisions have been made yet regarding which of the submitted sites or ideas will be incorporated into the proposed plan.