A Falkirk Council initiative that turned a long-derelict gateway site at the entrance to Slamannan into a new green space and refreshed the village centre has been shortlisted for a top national regeneration prize.

The £500,000 Slamannan Regeneration Project is one of three contenders in the Improving Scotland's Places category at the 2026 SURF Awards. Run by SURF, Scotland's Regeneration Forum, in partnership with the Scottish Government, the awards have recognised best practice in community regeneration since 1998. This year an independent panel of 20 judges selected 15 projects across five categories, with three shortlisted in each.

At the heart of the scheme was the former Royal Hotel, which stood derelict for more than two decades before being demolished in 2024. Its footprint has been re-used as a pocket park featuring wildlife-friendly planting, seating and interpretation panels.

Works at Slamannan Cross delivered new paving, trees, benches and planting. The village's historic clock has been restored, two bronze lion's head plaques reinstated, and a new power supply installed to support community events and temporary retail.

Falkirk Council acquired the former hotel in early 2024 through the Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme, administered by the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer. Slamannan became the first local authority project in Scotland to benefit from the pilot, with the building purchased for £1, plus external costs.

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The programme was shaped through consultation with residents and is the first to be delivered via the Council's £3m Regeneration Fund.

Councillor Paul Garner, Acting Leader of Falkirk Council, said: "To see a project in Slamannan shortlisted alongside regeneration work from across Scotland is a real achievement and recognition of the difference this investment has made.

"For more than 20 years, the former Royal Hotel was a source of frustration for local people. We now have a welcoming space at the entrance to the village, alongside improvements to Slamannan Cross that have restored important features and improved the heart of the village.

"Local people helped shape the project from the start, so this recognition is also testament to everyone who contributed their ideas and helped us get to this point."

Since the park opened earlier this year, members of Slamannan Library Garden Club, who were instrumental in planting two raised borders, have continued to care for them.

Lauren Weiss, who led the group's planting of the park, said: "It's been lovely to see the pocket park become established and enjoyed by the local community.

"As well as continuing to look after our borders, we've been planting elsewhere in the village. For example, we've helped our friends at Limerigg Community Hall by adding wildlife-friendly perennials to their borders. In addition, we've installed new planters across the village, and moved some of the original plants from our borders in the park to these new spaces. We're delighted that some of the bug houses that we made with local nursery school children are now in the park, too.

"For us, it's about making sure the work grows beyond the original project. By looking after the borders, creating new planting areas across the village, and in our wider community work, we can see a real sense of pride and ownership growing. We're sowing - and growing - not only plants but community spirit, which is so exciting!"

Slamannan is shortlisted alongside Pigeon Park in Glasgow and Number 30 The Square in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, in the Improving Scotland's Places category. The SURF judging panel visited the village on Tuesday 6 October 2026 to see the project first-hand and learn more about its impact before deciding the winner. The results will be announced at the 2026 SURF Awards Presentation Dinner at the Voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday 10 December 2026.