The Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan for 2023 – 2028 and Action Plan for 2023/24 were agreed at our Enterprise and Fair Work Committee.

They focus on new housing, redeveloping town centres, improving infrastructure for new and existing business and industry sites, and upgrading transport and digital connectivity.

The action plan sets out a number of actions that council will carry out in 2023/24 including:

• complete 276 more new-build council homes, purchase 76 homes through the open market and empty homes initiatives, and another 50 from the private sector;
• finalise the first four Town Action Plans in Airdrie, Cumbernauld, Motherwell and Wishaw, and develop plans for Bellshill, Coatbridge, Kilsyth and Shotts;
• create or refurbish 16,500 sq. ft of business and industrial workspace, remediate 2 hectares of land for redevelopment, and invest at least £2.3 million in key business projects;
• develop 6km of new and existing active travel routes to improve links between local communities, town centres and business locations, install fibre networks to improve digital connectivity, and continue the improvements to road and active travel through the multi-million pound Glasgow City Region City Deal investment.

“Our plan explains how we will deliver a regeneration programme to improve quality of life for residents and create opportunities for business growth and jobs,” said Councillor Ayeshah Khan, Convener of the Enterprise and Fair Work Committee.

“North Lanarkshire continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in Scotland, however the economic impact of Brexit, Covid-19 and more lately the cost-of-living crisis have raised challenges.

“Through the plan, we are taking action to encourage investment, have homes and places where people want to live, and the digital and physical connectivity that attracts business and new opportunity.”

The first North Lanarkshire Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan was produced for 2019-2023 with annual action plans detailing key milestones and targets. The Delivery Plan has been updated for the next five years to reflect developments and targets at local and national levels.