Ghanshyam Property has received planning permission for a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development at 71 to 73 High Street, Falkirk. The approval was granted by Falkirk Council on 3 June 2026. This development is set to replace the Falkirk branch of Wilko, which closed in September 2023.
Development Details
Designed by Arka Architects, the new structure will feature frontages onto the High Street, beneath a traditional two-storey building, and will also connect to the Howgate Shopping Centre. The redevelopment is a response to a critical housing shortage and the current retail environment, with local stakeholders identifying a need for affordable student accommodation. This type of town centre use has been explored in recent Council-funded masterplanning studies.
Accommodation Features
The development will consist of five storeys, providing a total of 107 student units. The existing ground floor and lower mezzanine will house various common facilities, with main access from the High Street. The first floor will include a restaurant, training kitchen, and seminar room. A new doughnut-shaped, lightweight steel structure will accommodate student bedrooms ranging from approximately 16 sqm to 32 sqm.
Facilities and Accessibility
All rooms will have ensuite facilities, a study desk, kitchenette, and storage. Ten of the rooms will be designed for accessible accommodation. The communal facilities will include a reception area, communal laundry, student lounge, gym, games room, cinema room, and quiet study room. The proposed room split includes 87 units for long-term student lets, ten larger studio flats for mid-term lets, and ten serviced apartment-type rooms for short-term lets for professional working students. No parking provision has been made in accordance with the Council’s Town Centre policies.