Wishaw Press

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- ROSStTHOMS­ON

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A number of new sites in Wishaw and Motherwell have been identified by the council as it pushes to build 5,000 new homes across North Lanarkshir­e.

The local authority has unveiled a series of sites with work set to begin after lockdown restrictio­ns are lifted.

Councillor Pat O’Rourke, North Lanarkshir­e Council’s acting housing convener, said: “Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, constructi­on work, in line with Scottish Government guidelines, has come to a halt.

“However, we’ve continued to work behind the scenes to push forward our ambitious housing programme to ensure we deliver our target.

“This means we’re ready to support attainment­tgap.t

NorthtLana­rkshiretCo­unciltwill­t receivetat£7.47tmillion­t investment­tfromtthet­Scottisht Government­ttotsuppor­tt pupilstfro­mtdeprived­t background­s. the constructi­on industry at this difficult time as soon as it’s safe to be up and running again.

“The contracts we’ve awarded also include a range of community benefits for local areas including careers events for school children, grants to local groups, new jobs and apprentice­ship opportunit­ies.”

A potential site for new homes has been identified in Graham Street, Wishaw, which will be developed in conjunctio­n with the redevelopm­ent of the social work office at King Street to support the regenerati­on of town centres.

Other town centre housing projects are also progressin­g and include plans for the redevelopm­ent at King Street in Wishaw for town centre residentia­l use.

The former Methodist Church site in Wishaw has also been identified

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MrtNeiltsa­id:t“Thistlates­tt for new town centre flats as well as the vacant YMCA building on Windmillhi­ll Street, Motherwell.

The council have also introduced a Developmen­t Pathfinder scheme which allows NLC to work with housing developers to buy new offthe-shelf homes including new-builds in Ravenscrai­g.

Councillor O’Rourke added: “By creating local jobs and training we’ll be strengthen­ing our local economy over a sustained period.

“Improving the lives of our tenants and regenerati­ng our local communitie­s and town centres are the drivers behind our long-term ambition.

“It’s an exciting time for North Lanarkshir­e and we’re committed to delivering on our ambitions and aspiration­s for the area and our residents.” fundingtbo­osttfortNo­rtht Lanarkshir­etdemonstr­atestthist Government’stambition­ttot transformt­ourtschool­standt ensurettha­tteverytyo­ungtperson­t getstthetc­hancettots­ucceedtint life.”

 ??  ?? Work behind the scenes Councillor Pat O’Rourke
Work behind the scenes Councillor Pat O’Rourke

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