New homes to boost town regeneration
Plans lodged for 350 houses in Springhill
Plans for 350 new homes in Shotts could spark the regeneration of the town, it has been said.
Adv a n c e C o n s t r u c t i o n Scotland have reduced the scale of development in principle down from 600 to 350 homes on an 80- acre site at Springhill Farm.
And they are proposing to build a roundabout in Springhill that will be used as a gateway to the town and help to slow down fast drivers on the road.
Kenny Ross, the agent acting on behalf of Advanced Construction Scotland said the area has great transport links and will give a social and economic boost to the town.
“It will have the right balance for transport, infrastructure and education,” he said.
“We have submitted plans for a residential development for 350 homes and a new roundabout as you enter Shotts from the east.
“It has been submitted and registered with the council.
“They are looking at it going out to consultation with the various different departments.”
And about 60 people turned up to an exhibition in Shotts about the development last November.
Mr Ross added: “The feedback from people in the immediate area was 100 per cent positive.
“A lot of young people came to this event and that is unusual for an event like this.
“They care about Shotts and they were interested in a home to move into.
“It will be affordable good quality housing.
“There will be a broad range of house types from cottage flats terraced houses up to fourbedroom, detached covering the full spectrum of housing.
“There is potential for social housing.”
SNP councillor Tommy Cochrane is backing the plans and says it will bring in an extra 1000 people to the town.
“If this goes well I think it will be a boom in Shotts,” he added.
“Shotts has stagnated since the early 80s.
“We need to move on and we need to build houses.
“The population has fallen away. We still have the same amount of houses but not the same amount of people.
“This is the reason we are losing services because the population is declining.
“This will bring in over 1000 people.”
Councillor Cochrane said there here is a huge demand for threeand four- bedroom houses for families in Shotts.
“They won’t be able to fill the houses with just people from Shotts,” he added.
I hope that people from other areas will come to Shotts.
“I have had people come to me saying I need a new house, but I can’t find what I am looking for in Shotts and I will need to move out.
“I don’t know how many people we have lost to the Armadale area.
“We need to keep people in Shotts.”
The land is on greenbelt and contrary to the Local Development Plan.
And there is a land to the north west of the site that could be used to extend the cemetery or used as a piece of land for dog walkers. This would be part of a separate planning application.
Advance Construction Scotland said they hope this development will allow Shotts to grow to a size where it can support and therefore attract more amenities, including a supermarket, other commercial and community facilities.
Shotts has stagnated since the early 80s.. we need to build houses