East Airdrie Link Road - Stage 3 information

Introduction

A Pre-Application Notice (25/00593/PAN) was submitted on 28 May 2025 and was the first stage in the process of applying for planning permission.

Two rounds of Pre-Application Consultation were carried out. These provided an opportunity for members of the public and stakeholders to comment on the proposals and contribute further to the design process. The feedback received has been used by the project team to review and refine the proposals.

• Round 1 was held from 16 June to 10 August 2025
• Round 2 was held from 25 September to 26 October 2025

Respondents predominantly submitted feedback on the design proposals, through a series of in-person events or online. The comments received during these periods have helped inform the roads design, in advance of any planning submission.

Following the Round 1 consultation events and the online survey, a number of changes were made to the scheme in response to the feedback received. These changes were incorporated into the Round 2 consultation material.

The revisions focused on the following key themes:

• Active travel
• Road safety and traffic management on the existing local road network
• Environmental impact

In response to specific feedback received during Round 1, an additional targeted consultation event was held at Caldervale High School at the outset of the Round 2 consultation period.

A video flythrough was also made publicly available for Round 2, showing the updated full EALR route, which allowed people to visualise the updated design better in their own time.  

A summary of feedback received during both rounds of the consultation can be found below. 

Summary of Round 1 Feedback

The purpose of the consultation was to understand local views on the revised Stage 3 route, to help inform any changes to be made to the design.  

The first round of Pre-Application Consultation on the Stage 3 proposals was held over an eight-week period between 16 June to 10 August 2025, which included drop-in events at: 

• Airdrie Library
• Chapelhall Library
• Cumbernauld Library 

There were approximately 115 attendees recorded across the three in-person events. 

Respondents could submit their views either via an online questionnaire or paper feedback form. 

The consultation consisted of two main questions: 

• Q1 - Are you supportive of the East Airdrie Link Road Project?
• Q2 - Would you like to see any changes made to the current proposals? 

AtkinsRéalis and NLC staff also recorded the views of those who attended the public consultation events.

Summary of Online and Written Responses – Round 1 

A total of 111 online responses were received during the Round 1 consultation period. Of these, approximately 24% expressed support for the scheme, while the remaining 76% requested further information, raised individual concerns or suggested changes. The responses are summarised below.

Responses in favour of the scheme generally provided positive feedback highlighting that the route had been changed following earlier consultation and engagement. 

Some respondents while being supportive, also provided additional comments which have been included alongside those that were keen for changes or seeking further information on the scheme.  In addition to the online feedback, detailed written feedback was also submitted by some members of the public, landowners, businesses and wider stakeholders. 

The points raised during Round 1 included: 

• Perceived increase in traffic around Towers Road, Petersburn Road and Varnsdorf Way, with associated concerns about safety, noise and air quality, including risks to pupils at nearby schools during both construction and future operation.
• Concerns regarding access to Dunsyston Wood for horse riders via an underpass.
• Concern over the loss of the grass playing field at Caldervale High School.
• Loss of woodland, habitat and green space around the North Calder Water.
• Requests for improved active travel routes and safer pedestrian/cycle infrastructure.
• Fears about construction-phase disruption and restricted access for residents.
• Access concerns from the new road cutting through fields.
• Request for greater consultation on the Towers Road Link.
• Suggestion that the EALR should be dualled.
• Concerns that the road might open up greenbelt areas for development.
• Suggestion of a new railway station to serve the new Monklands Hospital.
• Concerns regarding potential fly tipping on sections of road which will become redundant from the new road infrastructure.
• Mention of potential buried toxic waste sites to be avoided.

Summary of Round 2 Feedback 

The purpose of the second round of consultation was to understand local views on the updated Stage 3 design and seek additional input which could also help inform any further changes. In response to the Round 1 feedback, changes were made and presented as part of the Round 2 consultation material, across the following themes:

• Active travel
• Road safety and traffic management on the existing local road network
• Environmental impact

For Round 2, a video flythrough of the updated full EALR route, was also made available, which allowed people to better visualise the updated design.

Round two was held from 25 September and 26 October 2025, which included drop-in events at: 

• Caldervale High School
• Airdrie Library
• Chapelhall Library
• Cumbernauld Library 

There were approximately 230 attendees recorded across these four in-person consultation events. 

Respondents could again submit their views either via an online questionnaire or a paper feedback form. Views were also recorded by the AtkinsRéalis and North Lanarkshire Council staff in attendance at the public consultation events.

The Round two consultation consisted of the same two main questions:

• Q1 - Are you supportive of the East Airdrie Link Road Project?
• Q2 - Would you like to see any changes made to the current proposals?

Respondents were also provided with an opportunity to provide further comments and to list their top three things that they considered to be important to them in the landscape study area.

Summary of Online and Written Feedback – Round 2

A total of 49 online responses were received during the Round 2 consultation period. Of these, 77% expressed support for the scheme, while the remaining 23% requested further information, raised individual concerns or suggested changes. This represented a significant improvement compared to the previous consultation period, where only 24% explicitly expressed support.

In addition to the online feedback for Round 2, a total of 12 written responses were also received. 

Of the 77% which were in support of the scheme and submitted positive feedback, respondents mainly highlighted the benefits of the overall scheme and acknowledged that changes had been made in relation to previous feedback. Some respondents while being supportive, also provided additional comments. 

The points raised during Round 2 included:

• Perceived increase in traffic around Towers Road, Petersburn Road and Varnsdorf Way, with associated concerns about safety, noise and air quality, including risks to pupils at nearby schools during both construction and future operation.
• Concerns regarding impact at Spairdrum Road.
• Loss of playing field and greenspace.
• Access to and from Kiltarie Crescent during construction.
• Suggestion that the EALR should be dualled.
• Improved access to Drumgelloch Station.
• Lack of a linear active travel route.
• Desire to upgrade the link to Newhouse Roundabout.
• Concerns about the increased potential for development in the green belt area.
• Environmental impact on wildlife.
• Severance of Right of Way between Plains to Clarkston.
• Some concerns around land severance and accessing land.
• Concern about two-way traffic on B8039 at Breckenridge House.

Landscape Study Area

 As part of the Round 2 consultation, we also asked an additional question on landscape to help inform the plans.  The following topics were raised by a number of respondents:

• Maintaining the North Calder Heritage Trail;
• Provision of active travel routes;
• No disturbance to wildlife;
• Air quality, noise, pollution;
• Road and pedestrian safety;
• Access to railway station;
• Access to new hospital;
• Loss of playing field and green space;
• Construction traffic, noise and dust;
• Ensuring no impact on biodiversity
• Visual impact of the new road.

Next steps and feedback

The project team is very grateful to everyone who has taken the time to provide feedback during the Stage 3 design process so far. The feedback received has been carefully considered and used to help inform and shape the design as it has evolved, and will continue to support the ongoing project development process. We have also updated our Frequently Asked Questions section with additional information in response to some of the most common themes highlighted during the pre-application consultation period above.

Further updates

Further updates will be provided as the scheme progresses. Sign up to email alerts below, to keep up-to-date on the project.