Plans for new Europark housing submitted

Plans for the proposed Europark housing retail and business development have been submitted to North Lanarkshire Council.

Orchard Brae Ltd formally lodged its application with the council’s planning department last week.

The project – on a greenbelt site between Calderbank and Carnbroe – includes 2600 homes, 1000 of which have been designated as affordable and social properties.

The proposed development – which has been met with opposition from campaigners – would include a country park spanning more than half of the 600 acre site.

Orchard Brae says that this rejuvenated parkland network will give locals a formalised open space with better paths and lighting.

If passed, the developers say 940 new jobs will also be created, with a further 4650 temporary construction posts over the build-out period.

Orchard Brae director Scott Gillespie said:“Two years on from when we first publicly unveiled our Europark vision, we are pleased to be formally progressing our plans with North Lanarkshire Council.

“After a sustained period of refining our ideas in line with community feedback, we believe we have created a strong proposition for the site with a variety of uses.

“We have major ambitions for Europark that we believe will provide much-needed housing, as well as a significant boost to the local economy, new jobs, and an exciting new leisure and retail development.”

He continued: “We want to realise the true potential of the site’s wonderful existing assets and the creation of a park at the very core of the development is fundamental to that.

“We are keen to work closely with local communities to help maintain and harness what’s best about the site.”

Mr Gillespie added:“We believe that we have a huge opportunity to create something very special and are hopeful that the formal lodging of our plans with the local authority represents just the start of that process.”