Town by town
Cumbernauld.
Its new town centre is almost universally regarded as the biggest urban eyesore in Scotland. Often called the ‘plook on the plinth’ after winning architecture’s least coveted accolade more than once, the development dates back to the post-war building boom.
Senior council figures are frank that they want to see the plook gone. But it is privately owned - by two major landowners - so the exact mechanism for getting rid of it is not yet clear.
A new town hub for Cumbernauld, along with other public services and amenities, could include both Our Lady’s and St Maurice’s High and their associated primaries. These schools are ‘in scope’ of the proposals.
Motherwell
This industrial and transport hub has a combination of a tired shopping mall and old style parades of individual shops.
With fewer landlords that some other towns, it may be easier to clear way for a new hub. And with its key location next to the M74 and the West Coast mainline, there is a lot of positivity about Motherwell. It is set, after all, to get high speed trains to England as HS2 comes online. Motherwell’s future will be driven, say officials, by its connectivity.
All the town’s schools are within scope of being relocated to a new hub. But not all will be.
Wishaw
This town has long and sprawling shopping streets that are in clear decline. This retail offering, say officials, has to ‘contract” with new development taking advantage of Wishaw’s strategic location and ample green space.
Officials think that the local St Aidan’s High and its feeder primaries could be ‘in scope’ to move to a new town hub.
Airdrie
The attractive old market town will trade on its heritage, its historic appeal and good transport links with moves for downtown residential neighborhoods and a new hub to potentially include its St Margaret’s school.
Coatbridge
This town’s schools are recently rebuilt so redevelopment will focus on residential expansion in the old town centre, around existing attractions and rail and road connections.
Kilsyth
Historic but small, officials see Kilsyth as a destination town aimed at visitors as well as residents. Kilsyth Academy and its schools are in scope to be incorporated in to a new town hub.
Shotts
Part of Glasgow’s conurbation, Shotts is far from a classic town. Officials, however, hope a new hub will create a new sense of place and provide services for a wider suburban and rural catchment. Its relatively new school, Calderwood High, will be reexamined to see if it can act as a base for other services for the community.
Bellshill.
This town has the “location, location location” factor thanks to its motorway links. Officials envisage a compact town centre and a hub which may include Cardinal Newman High and Bellshill Academy.
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