Over £500m to be invested in reshaping North Lanarkshire

Planned active travel route in Ravenscraig

NORTH Lanarkshire Council has announced that over half a billion pounds is to be invested over the next five years to reshape the constituency’s towns and communities.

The local authority said that the five-year plan will help deliver ambitious regeneration proposals that will transform town centres into ‘vibrant’ multi-use spaces, develop business and retail opportunities, improve housing, develop local and community hubs, enhance local services and leisure and green spaces.

It forms part of the council’s wider plan to invest £3.5 billion in North Lanarkshire over the next ten years. It added that, alongside private sector inwards investment, the funding will create around 12,000 jobs and generate an additional £1 billion for the local economy.

Robert Steenson, executive director of enterprise and communities, said, “Our capital investment programme will allow us to build and develop exciting new opportunities for our communities and businesses. This last year has been so difficult for everyone with the global health pandemic and we need to focus on recovery and building back better to support our communities.

“We’re well placed to see our economy recover as we look to the future beyond the current Covid-19 pandemic and are progressing with our ambitious investment programme in housing, town centres, commercial developments as well as major road, active travel and digital infrastructure improvements to make North Lanarkshire the place to live, learn, work, invest and visit.

“There are so many exciting projects underway and this investment programme will help us transform and reinvigorate our towns and communities, bringing substantial benefits for local people.”