Housing bosses get their say on proposal
Developers behind plans to build more than 100 new homes in Craigneuk have been given the chance to appear before council planning chiefs.
North Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee will today (Wednesday) hear from Keepmoat Homes bosses who are seeking permission to build 111 homes on land at Meadowhead Road.
The 10-acre site lies derelict and is within the Ravenscraig development area.
There have been no objections to the plans from members of the public.
However, last August the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) submitted its objection to the proposals on the grounds of lack of information regarding the provision of heat and power to the proposed development.
SEPA then removed its objection last October after Keepmoat supplied them with additional information on its plans for the site.
In a document released by Keepmoat Homes in July last year showing all letters of consultation, Craigneuk Community Council gave its backing to the proposals.
Secretary Margaret Ann Murray said: “The land is derelict and is better to be used.”
Nathan Wilson, councillor for Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig, said: “As the Scottish Conservative councillor for Ravenscraig, I am very keen to see the site of the former steelworks re-developed.
“Alongside the Regional Sports Facility, the Motherwell campus of New College Lanarkshire, the housing estate at the top of Ravenscraig, the Raven’s Cliff pub and other mooted endeavours, the proposal to build homes on the vacant land besides Meadowhead Road in Craigneuk could make an important contribution to achieving this.
“Whilst there are strong merits to the proposal, it is important that it moves forward with the consent of Craigneuk residents and the highly regarded community council.”
Two new schools could also be in the pipeline for Craigneuk if the housing proposal goes ahead.
The council’s forward planning officer, Charles McCabe, released a letter to Craigneuk Community Council in October outlining the need for new schools.
A historical agreement means that – should the project be green-lighted – two schools could be built to cope with demand.
Mr McCabe stated: “We’re aware that there is potentially a development being proposed at the south of the site.
“We expect 30 pupils from each 100 houses.
“There is a historical agreement in place under which it was proposed that two new primary schools would be required at some point in the future and that the developer would contribute to the cost of these schools at specific points.
“Some of the local schools have started to experience capacity pressures but at present this can be controlled through restricting placing requests as necessary.
“As yet the developments have not progressed enough to trigger a payment from the developer.
“I can assure you, and the local community that we are actively monitoring developments and are working closely with colleagues in the planning service to understand the eventual impact on the school estate.”