A report on the progress in redeveloping North Lanarkshire town centres has been presented to councillors.

The council is working on Town Action Plans for all eight towns in North Lanarkshire – Kilsyth, Cumbernauld, Airdrie, Coatbridge, Bellshill, Motherwell, Wishaw and Shotts.

The latest report spelled out the findings of the first regular review of those plans, highlighting important progress such as the opening of community hubs in Newmains, Chryston, and Coatbridge during the last two years, with Orbiston Community Hub also opening soon.

Three other hubs are currently under construction and will open next year, namely St Kevin’s in Bargeddie, Coatbridge; St Stephen’s in Sikeside, Coatbridge and Gartcosh Community Hub .

Another priority is the promotion of housing in town centres, with Orrs in Airdrie and the YMCA now completed, while developments at Thorn Roadin Bellshill, Old Town Hall in Motherwell, School Street in Coatbridge are also underway.

Planning applications have also been approved for projects on Main Street Coatbridge, Kildonan Street Coatbridge and multiple sites in Wishaw.

Since 2023 92 town centre homes are now completed with some 300 expected by 2028, and this may be augmented through the renting of mid market housing.

The council is also working to improve active travel routes across the authority area and invest in heritage buildings, with £150,000 funding recently secured for the Rediscovering Airdrie project, while private owners of various assets have also shown interest in bringing their buildings back into active use.

In terms of expanding infrastructure for electric vehicles, a review of appropriate sites has now been completed. To ensure town centres will be attractive to electric vehicle users, the council will ensure their pricing is competitive with other towns.

The council’s enterprise and fair work committee unanimously acknowledged the report and the progress detailed therein, while also endorsing proposals to repeat the reviews every two years.