Grangemouth Stadium to transfer to new community group as part of successful asset review
Falkirk Council has today welcomed the news that Grangemouth Stadium is set to remain open for 2025/26 with the new Grangemouth Community Sports Trust preparing to take over the venue.
The Trust, which includes Scottish Athletics, has agreed to take on the management of the stadium under a Full Repair and Insuring licence from 1 April 2025. In addition, it is working on progressing a longer-term Community Asset Transfer.
The move ensures continued access for the community while Trust partners develop their business plan and apply to secure external funding.
Support package
To give the transfer the best chance of success, Council officers have committed to invest up to £350,000 to make the Stadium wind and water tight as well as statutory compliant.
Additionally, £50,000 of revenue enabling support has been committed to help cover reactive maintenance obligations and establishment costs.
In support of the longer-term asset transfer of the Stadium, up to £1m of funding to undertake further improvements will be considered by Councillors at the Council's budget meeting on 6 March 2025.
Cllr Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council, said:
Securing the immediate future of Grangemouth Stadium is a major achievement, and reflects our commitment to work collaboratively with partners to deliver sustainable solutions for the buildings we can no longer afford to operate.
"I want to thank all involved for their hard work in getting us to this stage. The agreement ensures the athletics community and local community can continue to access to the facilities while work progress on the asset transfer.
A comprehensive approach
The Council's Strategic Property Review (SPR) has seen over 40 Expressions of Interest and CAT applications submitted for Council properties since it launched in 2023, compared to less than five community transfers in the previous 26 years.
Over £100,000 has been allocated to help groups cover legal and business case development costs through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and all properties under consideration have been surveyed so groups fully understand their responsibilities.
The Council has also committed to making assets wind and water tight as well as statutory compliant before transfer, and has created a £3 million Capital Enablement Fund to support investment in transferred properties.
Council officers have actively engaged with community groups, attending meetings and offering hands-on guidance to facilitate the transfer process.
This approach has ensured properties are placed in the hands of organisations that can develop them to their full potential.
The SPR is expected to save the Council over £3 million annually and reduce backlog maintenance costs by £29m. It will also cut the Council’s carbon emissions by 2,316 tonnes (14.8% reduction).
Recognising that carbon will still be emitted from buildings transferring to community ownership, the Council’s Enablement Fund offers funding to groups to help them improve the energy efficiency of CAT buildings, ensuring carbon savings can still be achieved across the area.
To date, £874,317 from the £3 million fund has been allocated to support groups with repairs and improvements including new heating systems and the installation of solar panels.
Cllr Meiklejohn said:
By providing expert support, financial assistance, and ensuring properties are in good condition before transfer, we are giving communities the confidence to take on and improve these facilities, ensuring the buildings can thrive under community ownership.
Looking ahead
As well as discussing the Stadium and the assets transferred to date, the meeting of Falkirk Council on Thursday 30 January 2025 agreed to extend the deadline for closure of Kinneil Museum to 31 March 2026. It’s hoped that a CAT or Alternative Delivery Model can be brought forward in advance of this.
Councillors also noted the unexpected submission of an Expression of Interest for Carron Gymnastics Centre. Officers will now evaluate the application while also reviewing the Council’s proposal to relocate its gymnastics programme to The Mariner Centre and Larbert High School. Both options will be assessed together, and a report will be presented to councillors in June 2025 for further consideration.
Tomorrow (Thursday 13 February 2025), a further four CAT applications will be reviewed at a meeting of the Executive marking another step in the Council’s continued efforts to support community-led management of local facilities.