Green light plea for an ideal home town

The 150 million plans seek to rebuild the community of Whitecross, near Linlithgow, which has suffered from a series of economic setbacks, including the the closure of a brickworks and loss of 1,200 jobs.

It is thought redevelopment of the area, which comes under Falkirk Council, could also relieve some of the housing pressure on Edinburgh and commuter towns.

Falkirk councillors are now set to decide on whether to alter the local structure plan, which would allow a full planning application to be made.

The bid, forwarded by Morston Assets - a Norfolk-based property developer of which Sir Tom is a co-owner - would be based on the principles of the model villages built under 19th-century philanthropists such as the chocolate heir George Cadbury, who build Bournville village near Birmingham, and Robert Owen, the mill owner behind New Lanark.

Under the proposals, those living in the new area would be able to buy a 1 share in the management company responsible for running the village, helping to create a sense of community and local responsibility.

The 125-acre development would see 1,200 properties built across 125 acres, offering homes to all sectors of the potential community, from 500,000 luxury houses to rented flats affordable to those in low incomes.

David Dodge, of Morston Assets, said: "This is one of the most significant developments of its kind in Scotland and looks at the whole picture, from employment to living, well-being, and leisure.

"It is important to develop sustainable communities and we would like to bring jobs and stability to an area that has seen economic problems.

"On the whole everyone has been very receptive to the idea behind the plans and we have had a lot of interest.