Vennel Redevelopment

West Lothian Council is currently consulting residents of Linlithgow on a plan to redevelop the Vennel.  The aim of the project is to raise income for West Lothian Council through the disposal of a number of properties in and around the Vennel which will not be required by the Council when the library moves to the new Partnership Centre at County Buildings.

The properties are: the area between the flats on stilts and the High St; all buildings in the Vennel avenue (library, toilets, offices and shops); the Vennel car park and the green area between the buildings and the Loch.

The West Lothian Council documents can be viewed by clicking on the following links:

Vennel Planning Guidance – the document inviting developers to make proposals

Vennel site plan – the area for redevelopment

Vennel WLC Report 0417- the report of the committee meeting 

Images are shown below.

Developers will be asked to make proposals for a development which raises income for the Council and satisfies the wishes of residents.

The Community Council extend a huge thank you to all those who submitted a response to our online survey and identical paper based survey at Linlithgow Library

259 people in total either completed the survey online or completed the paper based survey. This is a significant representation of the Linlithgow Community. The results of the survey were used in the Community Council’s letter to West Lothian Council in response to the Vennel consultation. The letter also describes the Exhibition held on 29th August at which attendees completed 120 further questionnaires. A huge number of comments were received and these were all recorded and have been sent to West Lothian Council.

The results of the survey are given below. Of real importance is the number of people (83%) who believe that the Linlithgow community must be involved in the development of the specification for the Vennel redevelopment. Its too important to just leave to a developer or the to West Lothian Council.

1.  What do you like about the existing Vennel area?

14% Nothing
37% Convenient parking
38% Toilets
6% The look of the place
54% Gardens in front of the flats
71% Trees & floral displays

2. What would you wish to see done to improve the area?

58% Open views from High St to palace, church and loch
22% No development just demolish & create large garden/park
32% Increase amount of car parking
58% Include public toilets in redevelopment
63% Improve open space and gardens
33% Widen Vennel avenue and extend it to loch side

3. What would you like to see to encourage more tourists into the town?

3% Nothing, I would not wish to encourage more tourists.
41% Parking for tourist buses
64% Visitors centre with public toilets
46% Loch side café/restaurant/hotel
45% Increased car parking
70% Floral displays & garden/park

4. What housing should be in the redevelopment?

45% None, we require no more town centre housing
34% Apartments for families, couples or single people
19% Apartments for the elderly
31% Affordable apartments for first time buyers
21% Social housing

5. What shops would you like to see in the new development?

31% None, at present we have enough shops
39% Art & craft studios/shops to encourage tourists
16% A few large shops to attract national retailers
56% Small shops to attract specialist retailers

6. What other community facilities would you like to see in this area?

59% Flexible space for daytime clubs and evening youth activities
26% Serviced space for start-up businesses
31% Business centre and meeting rooms for micro businesses & home workers
30% Rentable quality function room for family & other gatherings

7. What sort of look would you like for the new development?

11% Modern – concrete/glass/timber
70% Traditional – stone/render/pitched slate roofs
24% A luxury/high quality feel
17% Practical/functional
14% I don’t mind, leave it to the architect

8. Should the flats adjacent to the Cross be included in the redevelopment?  Currently they are not but providing residents & businesses are offered equivalent accommodation in the new development is this the right time to demolish and re-build.

82% Yes
18% No

9. Who should manage the specification of the development?

5% A private developer
7% West Lothian Council
83% A Linlithgow Community group in partnership with developer and/or West Lothian Council
5% A Linlithgow Community group on its own

10.  Would you like to be involved in the development process?

126 No, I do not wish to be involved, just informed of progress through Black Bitch, Gazette & other media.
116 I would like to receive regular updates by email.
41 I am interested in being involved in a Linlithgow Community group to develop proposals.

The Vennel exercise comprised, the survey (on-line and in the Library), table events at the Cross, interviews with residents, an exhibition and a final summary questionnaire.