Labour councillors urge public to have their say over listing bid that could jeopardise centre re-development plans

The prospect of an all-new Cumbernauld Centre being put in jeopardy by a bombshell bid to make it a listed building has led to a public appeal by the town’s four Labour councillors in a quest to ensure the re-development goes ahead without any hitches.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Jun 2022, 11:33 BST
Cumbernauld Town CentreCumbernauld Town Centre
Cumbernauld Town Centre

Earlier this year, the now former Labour Administration on North Lanarkshire Council agreed a landmark deal in principle to buy Cumbernauld Town Centre from its private owners, with a view to demolishing the old, dilapidated structure and building a modern town centre complete with new cultural, health, leisure and education facilities in its place.

Soon after this, a controversial bid was launched to ask Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to designate Cumbernauld Town Centre a ‘listed’ building. This would prohibit any attempt to demolish and replace the existing ‘mega-structure’.

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Now the four councillors in question, Tom Fisher, Barry McCulloch, Peter McDade and James McPhilemy have urged residents to respond to HES’s initial consultation, which closes on Sunday, June 12 and have released a joint statement to this end.

It states: “The proposed new Town Hub would be a massive step forward for Cumbernauld – giving local people a proper 21st Century Town Centre, complete with enhanced leisure, cultural, health and education facilities. If successful, this attempt to list the building will prove damaging to these plans and will greatly reduce the options available for regeneration.

“We would urge residents that agree with us that the existing town centre mega-structure is out-dated and not fit for purpose, to make their views known to Historic Environment Scotland. Bluntly, local people need a 21st Century Town Centre more than a few architects need a dilapidated, outdated, building to study.”

You can complete Historic Environment Scotland’s initial consultation at: https://haveyoursay.historicenvironment.scot/heritage/designating-cumbernauld-town-centre/

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That same link has now been added to North Lanarkshire Council’s own draft consultation process on the project which is still available on the Latest Council News section of NLC’s website, in a clear sign that the council itself continues to have concerns about the listing.

Related topics:LabourHistoric Environment ScotlandNorth Lanarkshire Council

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