Plans to develop hundreds of new houses in Shotts
Residents want other areas improved as a priority
A community councillor described areas in Shotts as being “like Beirut” during consultation talks about potential plans to build up to 500 new homes in the town.
A new multi-million pound development creating new homes and hundreds of jobs could be on the way to Shotts.
Advance Construction spoke to residents about a major development to breath fresh life into an 80-acre vacant site at Springhill Farm.
During the consultation with Shotts Community Council held in the Healthy Living Centre, one resident said that areas leading into the town were “like Beruit” and had to be addressed first before any new development.
But other community councillors backed the plans for a mix of private and social housing in Springhill.
She said people in the housing estate were excited about the development and said it would attract people from Livingston and surrounding areas to live in Shotts.
The community councillor added: “Bring people from Livingston to Shotts,
“Shotts is more friendly and I know all my neighbours here .
“That alone, that will bring people to Shotts to live.”
Shotts councillors Tommy Cochrane and Charlie Cefferty welcomed the much- needed investment in new homes to the town.
Councillor Cochrane said: “This is the kind of regeneration we need in Shotts and this is just the start of it .
“Others will come in when they see the potential.
“There are 8400 in Shotts. We need the magic 10.000 to attract a major supermarket to Shotts.
“More people from Shotts are moving to the east to work and shop in Livingstone. This location is ideal - straight onto the A71 and to Livingston’s two railway stations for commuters.
Advance Construction would clear the land and make it suitable for house builders to create a mix of bungalows, detached and semi- detached houses for private and social rent.
Two representatives of Advance Construction consulted with Shotts Community Council ahead of submitting a planning application with North Lanarkshire Council.
A spokesman told the meeting their development has a lot of potential and would create up to 400 to 500 homes to the south of Springhill Road.
“We would integrate existing footpaths and bus stops into the infrastructure that exists,” he added.
“We are considering the availability of primary schools in the area and there is a big consideration in sports pitches.
“Shotts is well served by football pitches.
“We would improve the existing road network to make a gateway into Shotts.”
Last week the Wishaw Press reported how councillors Tommy Cochrane and Charlie Cefferty hit back at Provost Jim Robertson’s assertion that North Lanarkshire Council had invested heavily in Shotts.
Speaking at the community council meeting about the potential development in Springhill, councillor Charlie Cefferty said: “It is the chicken and egg scenario.
“If you don’t do anything, nothing will happen.
“We need to attract people to come Shotts to live.
“The prices of homes are affordable and it is only 25 minutes away from Glasgow.
“We are gaining services in Shotts.
“We need to bring Salsburgh folk into Shotts too.”