Gleeds, the international management and consultancy company which acted as cost advisors to the HELIX bid to the BIG Lottery Fund’s Living Landmark programme, has joined in the celebrations following the award of £25 million of funding.

The HELIX will transform the landscape between Falfirk and Grangemouth into a thriving environmental community. It is a partnership made up of Falkirk British Waterways and the Central Scotland Forest Trust.

The recent announcement of funding has been received with great excitement by all those involved with the HELIX project especially in light of the fact that it was the only Scottish proposal to receive a lottery grant of its kind.

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The scheme will provide a unique outdoor sustainable environment with 300 hectares of new greenspace, 34kn of paths, cycle ways, water features, and woodland featuring 750,000 newly planted trees.

Other work will include a canal link to reconnect the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Forth Estuary that will offer a new gateway to Scotland’s inland waterways, as well as a public arts programme which will involve the creation of two 30 metre high 'Kelpie' heads.

Based on mythical Scots creatures of the same name, the sculptures will work both functionally as a boat lift mechanism for the canal, as well as an impressive attraction complimenting the HELIX site.

Steve Whitton who manages Gleeds' Scottish operation, said: "We are extremely proud to have been involved in the bid for this dynamic project. The HELIX is an exciting and extremely bold scheme that with its successful BIG Lottery Fund bid, will completely transform the whole area into a thriving community and put Falkirk and Grangemouth on the map as a great place to visit."

Work is expected to start on site in 2008 over three phases, the major capital phase is expected to be completed by 2013.

(JM)