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Falkirk - Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme
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FALKIRK COUNCIL
FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 2009 (the Act)
AND
THE FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT (FLOOD PROTECTION SCHEMES, POTENTIALLY VULNERABLE AREAS AND LOCAL PLAN DISTRICTS) (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2010 (AS AMENDED) (the Regulations)
GRANGEMOUTH FLOOD PROTECTION SCHEME 2024
Notice is hereby given in terms of paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 of the above Act and in terms of regulation 10 of the above Regulations that on 5 November 2026 Falkirk Council (“the Council”) confirmed the proposed Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme 2024 (“Scheme”) without modification. Pursuant to regulation 4 of the Regulations, the Scheme required to be subject to an environmental impact assessment, and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report, prepared in compliance with regulation 6 of the Regulations and detailing appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures that would be secured, accompanied the Scheme. The final decision was made in accordance with section 60 and paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 of the above Act and Parts II, III and IV of the above Regulations.
The Scheme is located in the District Burgh of Falkirk, with operations in the electoral wards of Bonnybridge and Larbert, Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst, Falkirk North, Grangemouth, Lower Braes, Bo'ness and Blackness at various locations on or adjacent to the River Avon from Inveravon to the confluence with the Firth of Forth, the River Carron from the A9 crossing at Larbert to the confluence with the Firth of Forth, Westquarter Burn from Grandsable cemetery to the M9, Chapel Burn from Carronshore Road to the confluence with the River Carron, Millhall Burn from Millhall Gardens to the confluence with the River Avon, flood relief channel from Rannoch Park to the confluence with the River Avon, Grange Burn between Zetland Park and confluence with the Firth of Forth, the Polmont Burn from Weedingshall to the M9 and the Firth of Forth between the River Carron and River Avon. The total length of flood defences is approximately 28km. The Scheme involves the following operations: flood defence walls and embankments, flood gates and demountable flood barriers, modification to lock gates within the Port of Grangemouth, drainage works including new and enhanced drainage and pumping stations, replacement bridges and raised/ modified bridges and culverts, Erosion protection measures, utility and service diversions, and hard and soft landscaping
In making the final decision, the Council considered the information presented in and the examination of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report in accordance with regulation 2A(c) and (d) of the Regulations. The Council reached a reasoned conclusion on the significant effects of the Scheme on the environment, taking into account the consideration that the Scheme will have positive effects associated with reduced flood risk and associated positive effects on human health and will ensure positive effects for biodiversity are realised appropriately. There will be some unavoidable, significant adverse effects during construction and for a few years once built in respect of disturbance to qualifying features of the Firth of Forth SPA, loss of woodland, noise and vibration, landscape and visual impacts, and localised impacts on the water environment, all as set out in Chapter 17 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report accompanying the Scheme.
The final decision followed notification and consultation of the Scheme by the Council in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, which commenced on 9 May 2024 and concluded on 16 June 2024.
On 23 January 2025, the Council issued a preliminary decision to confirm the Scheme without modification. This preliminary decision was communicated, in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to the Act, to the Scottish Ministers who confirmed on 27 March 2025 that they did not wish to call in the decision and referred it back to the Council for taking a final determination. The Council appointed a reporter, who held a hearing on 28 January 2026 to consider the proposed Scheme, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, and outstanding objections to the Scheme. In reaching its final decision, the Council has had regard to the reporter’s recommendation report issued on 30 April 2026 as well as the objections, representations and submissions made in respect of the Scheme.
In accordance with paragraph 11 of Schedule 2 of the above Act, the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme 2024 will become operative six weeks after notice of its confirmation is first published in a locally circulating newspaper, as required under paragraph 10(2)(d) of Schedule 2 of the above Act, unless an appeal is made against the Scheme in accordance with paragraph 12 of Schedule 2 of the above Act during that period, being the period from Thursday 5 November 2026 to Thursday 17 December 2026 inclusive.
An appeal may be made by way of summary application to the Sheriff of the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife at Falkirk Sheriff Court, Main Street, Camelon, Falkirk, FK1 4AR. The grounds on which a decision can be appealed are: (a) that the confirmed scheme breaches the restriction in section 61(3) or does not comply with the requirement in section 61(4) of the above Act; (b) that, in reaching the decision, the local authority erred in law; or (c) that there was a failure to comply with a procedural requirement contained in Schedule 2 of the above Act or the above Regulations. The Sheriff may, on the application of the appellant, suspend the operation of the scheme, or any part of it, either generally or insofar as it affects any interest in land which the appellant has, pending determination of the appeal. If the Sheriff is satisfied that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced, as detailed in paragraph 12(7) of Schedule 2 of the above Act, then the Sheriff may uphold the appeal and quash the scheme, or any part of it, either generally or insofar as it affects the interest in land which the appellant has.
The full decision, together with the confirmed Scheme and supporting relevant information, including the environmental information considered by the Council, may be inspected online at
floodscheme.com/full-decision. The Environmental Impact Assessment Report in respect of the Scheme can be inspected at
floodscheme.com/eiar. Copies are also available for inspection free of charge at Falkirk Council, Falkirk Stadium, 4 Stadium Way, Falkirk, FK2 9EE during the hours of 10:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm Monday to Friday.
Malcolm Bennie
Director of Place Services
Falkirk Council, Falkirk Stadium, 4 Stadium Way, Falkirk, FK2 9EE
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