Focus on town centre redevelopment

Members of the Enterprise and Growth Committee approved the latest town centre initiatives, including major projects such as new housebuilding, the creation of new business space and the development of other key facilities.

The Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan also identified a range of external funding streams which the council will prepare bids for, helping to supplement its own capital investment. This includes the UK Government’s Levelling UP Fund, the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme, the Vacant & Derelict Land Fund/Vacant & Derelict Land Investment Programme and the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

“The regeneration of our town centres is a key priority in the council’s The Place, the Vision strategy and we are seeing progress in creating new homes and community facilities,” said Councillor Allan Graham, Convener of the Enterprise and Growth Committee.

“Our recent consultation on town visions has provided useful feedback from residents and businesses on how they would like to see their towns change and improve in future. We will use that information to further develop the visions, at the same time as we deliver individual projects which bring homes and jobs into our town centres.”

Progress on individual projects was reported:

Airdrie

• The council has provided funding to Clyde Valley Housing Association for the redevelopment of Broomknoll Street Church for housing. The works is expect to be complete in December 2021.
• A property on Buchanan Street has been refurbished by North Lanarkshire Properties and the council, creating commercial units on the ground floor and flats above.
• In Graham Street, a similar project is delivering new commercial units and flats.
• A residential development by Clyde Valley Housing Association and supported by the council through the Strategic Housing Investment Plan is under way at Mill Loan. It is due to be finished by June 2022.
• Demolition is complete at the former Orr’s building and the site will be redeveloped to provide 20 flats and commercial space.

Bellshill

• Demolition will start soon at the vacant Money Advice Centre. The site will be greened temporarily while plans are drawn up for future redevelopment.

Coatbridge

• A derelict building on Bank Street has been partially demolished to allow the development of new flats and supported housing accommodation.
• A fire damaged building on Main Street will be demolished and the site will see new flats built as part of the council’s new supply programme.
• Detailed designs are being produced to convert the former Municipal Buildings on Kildonan Street into mainly residential accommodation. Work is expected to start on site in 2023.
• In line with the Town Vision, investment is being sought to reshape the town centre.

Cumbernauld

• A new active travel link connecting Abronhill with Cumbernauld Town Centre – Cumbernauld Green Route - has recently been created.
• Improvements have been made to the commercial business space within the Muirfield Centre to attract new tenants.
• In line with the Town Vision, investment is being sought to reshape the town centre.

Kilsyth

• Plans are in place for the former police station site to be redeveloped for residential accommodation by Clyde Valley Housing Association, supported by the council through the Strategic Housing Investment Plan. Subject to planning approval being granted, work could start in early 2022 and be completed in 2023.

Motherwell

• A vacant cafe site – Café Refresh – will be redeveloped as part of the improvement works around Motherwell Train Station. Work is expected to start on site in early 2022.
• Repairs to the historic fabric of Motherwell Library has just been completed, as part of improvements to this area of the town centre.
• Scotrail are carrying our extensive improvements to the train station and the council will be creating a new transport hub in Muir Street, with active travel links, a new taxi rank and expanded bus stop.
• Work is due to start next year at the Old Town Hall to create new housing as part of the council’s new supply programme.
• The former YMCA building on Brandon Street and adjacent land will be converted into housing, with work starting in 2022.
• The council worked with Reeltime Music to secure £1,171,270 from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to transform a long-term vacant industrial unit into a community music and learning hub. This is expected top open by the end of this year.

Shotts

• Work has started on a new community hub at Springhill Community Centre. The council and Getting Better Together – Shotts secured £790,000 from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for the project.

Wishaw

• The derelict former Methodist Church has been demolished and the site will be redeveloped as part of council’s new supply programme. Work is due to start on site by 2022.
• Former office building Kings House has been acquired by the council for new housing. The building will be demolished by the end of this year.
• Trust Housing Association has started work on the former Tesco site on Main Street to create new housing, which is due to be complete by November 2022.
• The site of a former care home on Robert Street is being redeveloped by the council for new housing. Work is due for completion by January 2022.