Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Former town hall is step closer to social housing conversion
Conversion of Coatbridge’s historic Municipal Buildings into social housing is now a step closer after councillors agreed to seek Court of Session permission for the proposal.
Legal permission for the change of use is required as the B-listed structure is considered a “common good asset”, passed down from former burghs and which may have restrictions on its use.
Members of North Lanarkshire’s housing committee voted 16-13 at last week’s virtual meeting to go ahead with the plans following a two-month public consultation which attracted five responses – but opposition councillors unsuccessfully campaigned for the exercise to be re-run to seek greater public engagement.
The 127-year-old building at Kildonan Street was earmarked for closure in 2019 as part of a council office budget-cutting programme, and has been entirely closed to the public since the start of the first coronavirus lockdown 18 months ago.
Housing committee members last year agreed to its £11 million transformation into 49 council homes for rent, with its historic council chamber and conference room being retained as local authority office space.
The common good designation meant a community consultation had to be carried out, which was conducted online between May and July and saw notices posted on the building and nearby public facilities, and information being sent to members of Coatbridge community board.
Coatbridge North councillor Allan Stubbs, in whose ward the building is located, proposed that the decision be delayed so that an extended consultation exercise could be carried out.
He said: “I don’t think we know what the general opinion of the public is at the moment because of the climate in which the consultation was run, during lockdown when people really weren’t concentrating on things like that.
“The building has been closed to the public for a year-anda-half so an A4 poster in the window isn’t going to be seen so it’s likely inevitable that the vast majority of people in Coatbridge won’t know this is going on.
“We need to do neighbour notification, put more on social media and in the press, and go back to the community board with a much clearer advertised discussion that the town hall is potentially being turned into housing.
“All we’re asking is to delay it very briefly. If the people of Coatbridge respond in favour then that’s the right decision, but we have to ask the question in less difficult times as it’s simply about doing all we can to gather opinions before we make a final decision on a historic building right in the centre of the town.”
He added: “Everybody knows my opposition to this proposal. I don’t think it’s an appropriate use for Coatbridge town hall, but I don’t expect that to be the opinion of everybody.
“I’m asking that we speak to the people of Coatbridge and ask what people want done. Maybe they want housing, do they want it to be a town hall again, do they want a community centre or back to offices? Let’s not be scared of what the people have to say.
“Coatbridge has been really badly affected by the rationalisation of office accommodation across North Lanarkshire. More or less all of the [council] offices have been closed and it’s not a good thing for the local economy.”
His amendment was supported by his SNP colleagues, but a majority of councillors voted to go ahead with the change of use request to the court, expected to cost £11,000.
Council leader Jim Logue said it would be “absolute nonsense to continue” the consultation, saying: “We all know that building is surplus to requirements – if it’s not going to be used for offices, what can it be used for?”
Kevin Docherty, the Coatbridge West representative, said: “It’s been empty for over a year and we don’t want to turn this beautiful building into an eyesore – the quicker we start doing something with it the better”; while ward colleague Mary Gourlay highlighted the need for local housing and praised the “stunning” residential conversion of the town’s former library.
A report for councillors read: “Conversion of Kildonan Street has several benefits to the residents of the former burgh of Coatbridge.
“[It] will deliver more affordable homes, which are required in Coatbridge; [and] will reduce inequalities of income caused by socioeconomic disadvantage.
“The new homes will be constructed to a high adaptable standard, suitable for varying housing needs [and] it is intended that 10 per cent will be designed for wheelchair use.
“Conversion is more sustainable and eco-friendlier than demolition and new build and is a resourceful use of an existing asset; [and] will preserve a landmark building [and] an important part of the heritage of Coatbridge.”
Four of the public consultation responses supported the plans while the other raised points including a wish to retain the building as a council headquarters location or for community use, traffic and parking concerns and a wish either to retain the historic octagonal chimney at the former police station wing or to have it reconstructed at the town’s Summerlee museum.