The firm plans to create a new community of up to 60 properties on land at Preston Farm, on the south west edge of the town.

The new proposals would occupy just a portion of the farm site and would be painstakingly shaped to preserve the views to the north enjoyed from the neighbouring, Grade A-Listed Preston House.

Derek Lawson, land director with CALA Homes (East), said: “We are at the very outset of a long and proper planning process, but already we have taken great care to make sure that this development would be entirely sensitive to the surroundings.

“This is an extremely exciting opportunity to deliver much-needed, high quality family homes in one of the most desirable locations in West Lothian.

“The town has seen little in the way of new housing created in the past 20 years. That is why planners have earmarked this site, one of very few in Linlithgow, for development in West Lothian’s proposed Local Development Plan.

“With that in mind we are very optimistic that our proposals for high-quality homes within the town boundary will be well-received. Likewise we’re hopeful that we can move forward carefully to submitting a detailed planning application in April or May of 2016.”

A public consultation event will be held in February and this will allow local people to see draft proposals and to provide their feedback and suggestions for the development. CALA Homes is still finalising the arrangements and will publicise the details as soon as possible.

As part of the public consultation process, the firm will also be seeking engagement with and feedback from Linlithgow Bridge Community Council and Linlithgow Civic Trust.

The development would include houses of all sizes, with a focus on quality family homes. A quarter of the homes would be affordable housing and the development would also include significant areas of public open spaces and amenity planting.