Retail

Research has shown that the independent retail sector is more resilient to change than larger national multiples and that these, in most cases local businesses, will prevail if sufficient infrastructure and interest are in place. We will therefore seek to support the retail sector in Shotts by encouraging the town centre owners to refurbish larger vacant units into smaller units to provide space for entrepreneurs and established businesses to find the optimum premises for their business.

Funding constraints and legal issues do, however, constrain the level of support which the council can provide. However, we are working with partners to identify potential funding streams to promote business investment and the regeneration of the key retail areas within Shotts.

Commercial 

The collapse in the demand for commercial premises such as offices in town centre locations echoes wider structural changes in the economy and the growth of digital connectivity. The impacts of the Covid pandemic demonstrated the benefits and ease of remote working across the public and private sector and led to an exponential growth in homeworking with a resulting impact on footfall within the town centre. 

This needs to be recognised in how we change the structure of Shotts town centre and make best use of the vacant premises which occur as a result of lower demand and need for town centre office space.

In addition, moving forward, the commercial space which remains also needs to be more accessible and energy efficient to compete with out-of-town locations (with consideration given to how we measure the scale of this challenge and take forward the repurposing of vacant office space).

Leisure and Hospitality

The leisure and hospitality sector is a key component of the move towards a more mixed-use town centre. The importance of 'Place' in terms of the public's perception of character and safety is very important in attracting people to use existing leisure and hospitality businesses. 

Ease of movement to and from the town centre will encourage people to access leisure activities and sustain and develop the night-time economy and footfall.

In meeting this aim, the Town Action Plan for Shotts aims to promote and sustain active travel routes and transport options to support access to town centre facilities and build footfall that will help the leisure and hospitality sectors in Shotts. 

New Build

Encouraging more people to live in town centres is a key policy aspiration for the council, underpinning priorities around sustainability, net zero, inclusion and wellbeing. 

More people living in town centres means more support for local businesses. It means keeping bus routes active, as well as a safer place due to passive policing and greater local interest in the town centre environment. These all make a town more attractive to people living here.

The scale of the town centre in Shotts is such that opportunities for the development of new flatted residential properties is limited. The council does not own any vacant land within the town centre boundary and other than The First Stop Shop, we do not own any buildings. 

We are therefore looking to the private sector to come forward with development proposals. At this time, we are seeking to work with the owners of the former bank buildings on Station Road to help them to refurbish these vacant properties into residential accommodation. 

Refurbishment 

We are actively seeking to replace redundant properties within the town centre with residential development to ensure that we respond to issues of vacancy and dereliction, in particular the former Royal Bank of Scotland building on Station Road.

The refurbishment of existing buildings within the town, rather than demolition and replacement, not only reduces the carbon footprint of development but also retains the character of the townscape and helps preserve a town centre's unique 'sense of place'.

Heritage Refurbishment 

Shotts town centre has several heritage properties which are functionally obsolete but of good quality and whose external appearance contributes to the character and history of the town. 

The council has identified the former Royal Bank of Scotland building on Station Road as a building in need of refurbishment due to long-term vacancy and neglect. While not listed, the building makes a significant contribution to the townscape. Shotts as a place would be architecturally poorer if such buildings were not refurbished and subsequently fell into disrepair.  

Where the council do not own heritage buildings, we will support the owners in their endeavours to secure a future for these buildings by assisting in sourcing external grants and funding. 

Public Transport

Town centres are hubs for transport interchanges with Shotts having strong rail network connection to the wider Central Belt and local bus service links.

Shotts town centre must build on this strength, with the council working with Scotrail and Strathclyde Passenger Transport to ensure good and co-ordinated public transport connectivity to this interchange, potential 'SMART' ticketing and well-maintained park and ride facilities.

The public has identified the need for lift access at the railway station to improve accessibility and we will seek to work with Scotrail to explore how this can be delivered. 

The public has also identified the frequency of bus services as an issue which needs to be addressed. As bus services are privately owned businesses, the council has no direct control over the bus service in terms of routes or frequency of services, however, we have regular engagement with the bus companies and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport executive to seek to improve services.

Active Travel 

Active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) has many environmental benefits, as well as improved health and wellbeing, and is a core part of rebalancing the transport modes within our town centres.

Key active travel routes will seek to link the town centre to the proposed Town Hub at Calderhead High School and to outlying settlements to ensure people in these communities have the choice to access the town centre and community facilities by foot or wheeled transport as opposed to the private car.

Built Heritage

North Lanarkshire's towns have character and are distinctive in form and heritage, the town centres are a reminder of a positive and defining economic past (coal, iron, steel, mills, quarrying) with many notable buildings. 

The vision for Shotts seeks to build on the distinctive character and quality of place using this legacy to reinforce urban form and repurpose heritage buildings for new uses. 

As part of the delivery of the Shotts Town Action Plan, we will identify vacant or underused heritage properties in the town centre and work with owners and partners to identify and help secure funding for the repurposing of such buildings for housing, community or other viable uses.

Place

We are seeking to promote Shotts as a more inclusive place, promoting longer dwell time and increased town centre footfall. 

The Vision for Shotts town centre already identifies the need for improved 'gateways' to the town centre, improving the aesthetical quality of streetscape and creating 'place quality'. 

Carbon Reduction

Key measures within the vision for supporting carbon reduction in Shotts will include:

• property upgrading, retrofit and re-purposing (making these more energy-efficient)
• developing active travel infrastructure
• greening activity
• extending EV charging infrastructure

EV Charging Infrastructure

As part of the delivery of the Shotts Town Action Plan, we will investigate the suitability of our public car parks and facilities for electric vehicle (EV) charging and their capacity to meet future demand and need for EV charging within our town centres.

Shotts Town Hub

The Town Hub for Shotts will be located at Calderhead High School which was built in 2012. The building will be required to be adapted and potentially extended to accommodate an additional range of public services and uses. 

We are currently seeking to secure the funding to proceed with the design development of the Town Hub, and the associated statutory public consultation around education provision. No formal decision has been taken as to which schools will be incorporated into the Town Hub campus.

Community Hubs

St Patrick's Primary School is in scope for refurbishment or replacement as it was constructed pre 1996. The council will engage with the school, the Dioceses and the wider public through the agreed statutory legal requirements to ensure that the new school meets the needs of the community. 

Community Hubs will be designed to be open and accessible to the whole community, with predominately school access during the day and the wider community able to access many areas within the hub outwith school hours.

The design of the recent Newmains Community Hub is seen as an exemplar for the development of future Community Hubs in terms of energy efficiency, accessibility, quality of internal and external learning environments and play facilities. 

We will continue to review the physical condition of our education estate to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the wider community.