Action plan is praised
Councillors have hailed a plan to regenerate the economy in North Lanarkshire as the most ambitious of its kind in Scotland.
The economic regeneration plan covering 2022-2023 was approved by the council’s Enterprise and Growth committee at an online meeting.
It encompasses a slew of projects with the aim to grow and improve the sustainability and diversity of North Lanarkshire’s economy.
Objectives include increasing housing supply, regenerating town centres, providing suitable locations for existing and new businesses and improving infrastructure. The council is investing £21.678m from its current five-year General Services Capital Programme as funding in addition to accessing money from the UK’S Leveling Up Fund, the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme and Vacant and Derelict Land schemes as well as grants for projects promoting net-zero carbon emissions.
Head of planning Pamela Humphries said that new-build housing was significantly more energy efficient and a pilot scheme was designed to evaluate various designs for future builds.
Councillor Agnes Magowan (SNP, Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig) was enthusiastic about the plans for smart homes based on the findings of a pilot scheme, at the Kerr Grieve Court retirement homes complex in Motherwell.
“I think it’s amazing how people can be supported now by technology,” she said.
She also welcomed the progress made to improve Motherwell Rail Station where work is due to be completed this year, and the £5 million park at Ravenscraig, though she added that she was concerned this had been closed a few times since opening.
Officers said they believed the issues with the park had now been resolved and would confirm this with Cllr Magowan.
Depute council leader Paul Kelly (Labour, Motherwell West) said the action plan was “absolutely phenomenal” and “the most ambitious plan of any local authority in Scotland if not the UK” and paid tribute to all the work that had gone into it. He said: “We have the fastest growing economy probably in Scotland and the most ambitious growth programme in Scotland.
“It’s something that’s really needed as we come out of the pandemic and people are looking for good quality jobs and opportunities.”
The committee unanimously approved the action plan and its performance framework, which will help monitor current and future activity.