Changes to housing plan means more park land

Developers listen to feedback from local community

Orchard Brae Ltd has submitted “updated and enhanced” plans to North Lanarkshire Council for its Europark development.

The changes follow an extensive review of a community and stakeholder consultation process.

The feedback on the proposals resulted in a reduced scale of the initial plans and the removal of all development to the north of Calderbank, meaning a reduction in housing provision from 2600 to 2350.

The proposal includes a mix of private homes, affordable and social housing as well as new, dedicated, education provision through the creation of a new school within the development.

The centrepiece of the project remains a new country and heritage park, featuring the Monkland Canal and Calder Water.

With the removal of the Calderbank development, the parkland area has been increased and now spans 66 per cent of the overall site (162.4 hectares).

A mobility hub is also planned within the development to allow residents and employees access to more “sustainable, green forms of transport”.

Orchard Brae says it has augmented and improved the plans for the neighbourhood centre, creating a community facility, a home working hub, health facilities, a care home, petrol filling station, hotel and restaurant, fast food, an energy centre, and a pub/restaurant.

Stephen Tucker, master planner and spokesperson for Orchard Brae, said: “We are delighted to be taking forward our plans with North Lanarkshire Council and incorporating the feedback of the community.

“This input has been invaluable and has helped shape, focus and refine our plans to create something that, we believe, is very special for the area and for Scotland.

“Our plans reflect the site’s strong inherent sustainability and our intent that it becomes an example of zero net carbon development for others to follow. Our green master plan, which sits at the heart of our proposals, puts great emphasis on retaining green space for the public, creating an outward-looking, nationally important parkland community that enhances and embraces its environment, breathing new life and diversity into underused and somewhat neglected land.”

Keddie Consulting were commissioned to carry out a socio-economic study of the Europark proposals and assess their impact on the area.

Director, David Keddie, said: “The economic benefits for the area are both sizeable and sustainable.

“They come at a time when they can make a meaningful difference to the surrounding community.

“We have embraced and enhanced the green credentials of the development, whilst creating a mixed-use scheme that will support the people of North Lanarkshire in their lives and careers for many years to come.

“We are excited to be taking our plans forward and be continuing our dialogue with the local community, North Lanarkshire Council and the statutory consultees.”

Due to the changes made, the application will be open for further public comment until November 20.

For more information on the plans, visit https://www. orchardbrae.com/

We have really embraced and enhanced the green credentials of the development

Proposals The firm says its green plan includes the retention of the Woodhall and Faskine woodlands