Neil Mcgrory

North Lanarkshire Council has received planning application 26/00881/FUL from Modern Housing for 23 affordable one- and two-bedroom flats on a vacant brownfield site off Holytown Road. The proposal includes 28 parking spaces and aims to replace an overgrown former cottage site associated with fly-tipping and unauthorised gatherings. Supporting documents say the homes would meet local demand and benefit from nearby shops, schools, health facilities and public transport.

Councillors unanimously approved a community asset transfer allowing Wishaw Men’s Shed to buy Gowkthrapple Community Centre for £10,000, substantially below its estimated value because of the anticipated social benefits. Ownership will enable longer opening hours, activities for women, and bookable space for other community groups. North Lanarkshire Council will provide support with maintenance, volunteering, fundraising and future plans. The group has grown to 76 members, with patronage from snooker champion John Higgins and funding from the National Lottery Community Fund helping it obtain a minibus for community trips.

North Lanarkshire Council has submitted plans for 54 homes—eight houses and 46 flats—near Dunbeth Family Centre in Coatbridge, on the former Jackson Court tower block site. The proposal also includes 44 parking spaces and areas for informal children’s play. Public consultation was lightly attended but generated largely positive feedback, while concerns about play space and traffic were addressed by the council, which said the scheme would reduce the number of homes compared with the former tower block and would not provide access from Main Street.

A former storage and maintenance building at the closed Torrance Park Golf Club in Newarthill may be converted into a van sales and rental premises if North Lanarkshire Council approves a change-of-use application by New Brannock Ltd. The proposal includes repurposing the building for office and servicing space, expanding parking to 76 spaces, adding wildlife‑sensitive lighting and installing bat boxes. Cameron Commercials would operate the business with limited on‑site traffic due to its largely online model. A separate application seeks to turn land at Greenside Farm in Motherwell into a private dog exercise facility with parking, fenced fields and a cabin.

North Lanarkshire Council approved a planning application from Tradecast Building Services to refurbish a shop on Greengairs Road, adding hot food service, a beauty salon, staff facilities, and improved access and parking. Planning officers found the proposal consistent with local design and amenity standards and aligned with the North Lanarkshire Development Plan, enhancing retail provision for the area.

A revised planning application submitted by JWR Holdings seeks permission for 45 homes on Dykehead Road in Airdrie after a previous proposal for 70 dwellings was rejected. The updated plan presents a smaller, more compact development featuring terraced housing, aiming to address earlier concerns related to green belt impact, housing policies, power line corridors and placemaking. Supporting statements argue the proposal offers efficient land use and more affordable housing options. The application is available for public comment via North Lanarkshire Council’s website.

North Lanarkshire Council unanimously appointed Stuart Winning as the new teacher representative for the Secondary and Additional Support Needs sector on the Education, Children and Families Committee. Winning secured the role through a formal ballot with 83 percent support. The committee had previously endorsed his appointment, noting that teacher representation enhances professional insight in decision‑making.

North Lanarkshire Council approved a motion instructing its chief executive to seek urgent assurance from the Scottish Government that the business case and funding for a new Monklands Hospital will be approved and the project delivered by 2031. Councillors highlighted the deteriorating condition of the current hospital, rising repair costs and potential safety issues, as well as concerns over delays in approving the new facility. An SNP-led amendment expressed continued support for the project while calling for updates on timelines and costs. The original motion passed 51–24.

North Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee approved Bellway Homes’ proposal for 75 new houses in Gartcosh, pending a legal agreement on a financial contribution. The development forms part of the Gartcosh and Glenboig Community Growth Area and includes a mix of three- to five-bedroom homes and 12 affordable units. Twenty public objections focused on the short consultation window, but planners noted permission in principle had already been granted. The committee accepted the recommendations without debate and granted approval subject to conditions.

North Lanarkshire councillors unanimously approved Burnbank FC’s plans to redevelop Whifflet Park, including demolishing existing structures, removing bowling greens and adding new facilities such as containers, dugouts, floodlighting, fencing and a 3G pitch. Thirteen objections raised concerns about lighting, noise, trees, traffic and community engagement, but these were addressed through planning conditions. Council departments raised no objections, and the proposal was judged to offer community health benefits. Permission was granted subject to conditions.

A former factory site at Eurocentral may be redeveloped with 509 parking spaces and two outdoor padel courts under a planning proposal submitted by Anadna Properties. The brownfield land on Parklands Avenue has remained unused since the Chungwa factory was demolished in 2008. North Lanarkshire Council has notified two nearby properties of the application, which can be viewed under reference 26/00657/FUL.

Inspectors report significant progress at Airdrie Academy following concerns raised in 2025, noting improvements in teaching consistency, lesson planning, monitoring of attainment and support for pupils’ needs. Lessons are now more engaging and appropriately challenging, with better use of data informing staff meetings and pupil reviews. Enhanced literacy and numeracy outcomes and increased qualification attainment in senior years mean no further inspection visits are required.

A developer has applied to renew an expired planning permission to convert office space on Merry Street in Motherwell into seven flats, with existing parking arrangements remaining unchanged. North Lanarkshire Council is reviewing the application, and nearby properties have been formally notified. Public comments can be submitted through the council’s planning portal under reference 26/00418/FUL.

North Lanarkshire Council has submitted a planning application to expand Summerlee Museum in Coatbridge, proposing new cottages, a garage, a community venue, and upgrades to existing buildings. The project aims to enhance exhibits, expand the miner’s village, improve energy efficiency, and create a new pedestrian route linking the museum to the town centre. The redevelopment intends to create a more immersive industrial heritage experience and improve accessibility while preserving key historic features.

North Lanarkshire Council approved the creation of permanent enhanced support provision classes at five primary schools following successful pilot schemes and positive consultation feedback. The new model, aimed at pupils with additional support needs, offers flexible teaching environments with an emphasis on early intervention and inclusive learning. Councillors discussed road safety concerns near Muirhouse and St Brendan’s Primary Schools and the resource impact on Berryhill during the pilot phase, with assurances given that risk assessments, safety reviews and maintenance support are ongoing. The provisions will be fully implemented from August 2026.

A ballot of secondary and ASN teaching staff selected Stuart Winning as the new teacher representative for North Lanarkshire Council’s education, children and families committee, receiving 83 percent of the vote over Elaine Haldane. His formal appointment is expected at the full council meeting on June 25. The committee is also reviewing three nominations for a vacant religious representative role, with background checks underway before a final report is submitted.

A private operator, 21D Clinical, has applied to convert office space in Coltness House at Strathclyde Business Park in Bellshill into a dental clinic. The plan would use existing parking and highlights good transport links. North Lanarkshire Council is reviewing the proposal, and neighbouring premises have been notified as part of the planning process.

North Lanarkshire Council is considering a planning application from TRJ Contracts to build four semi-detached houses on vacant land off Colliertree Road in Clarkston near Airdrie. Neighbouring residents have been notified, and a coal mining risk assessment indicates the project could proceed with appropriate conditions to address risks related to historic mining activity. The council’s planning portal is open for public comments under reference 26/00349/FUL.

North Lanarkshire Council reported progress across several social work technology programmes, including the Mosaic case management system and the Access CM scheduling system, both delivering improved efficiency and staff uptake. New pilot initiatives using SimpliCare fall‑prevention technology and Care Surround Alexa devices aim to enhance independence for vulnerable residents. The council is also nearing completion of its transition from analogue to fully digital community alarms and has already updated all sheltered housing complexes to the new alert‑handling system.

North Lanarkshire councillors approved a package of measures to strengthen support for unpaid carers, including funding for voluntary sector partnerships, legal assistance to establish powers of attorney, and an expansion of the Carer Breather respite programme. Additional investment will back dementia‑related projects with Strathclyde University, support PAMIS in assisting families with complex needs, enhance assistive technology services, fund arts‑based wellbeing activities and continue a pilot scheme for individual budgets for children with additional support needs.

North Lanarkshire Council approved a £100 million demolition framework to support a major regeneration programme aimed at delivering 6,000 new homes by 2035. The plan includes replacing outdated tower blocks with modern, energy‑efficient housing and dividing demolition work into separate lots for low‑rise and more complex structures. The framework may also support procurement for larger projects including the Anvil Block in Wishaw and Cumbernauld Shopping Centre as part of the council’s broader redevelopment strategy.

HM Inspectors of Education rated Kilsyth Academy as good in all assessed areas, highlighting strong collaboration, a positive school culture, and student progress in literacy and numeracy. Inspectors encouraged further development of high‑quality learning, assessment, and tracking to support improved attainment but confirmed no follow‑up visit was required.

North Lanarkshire Council is considering a planning application from social enterprise The Green Robin to convert a former gym on Manse Road in Newmains into a gallery with retail units and workshops. The proposal does not include additional parking, and neighbouring properties have been notified. Public comments can be submitted through the council’s website using reference 26/00227/FUL.

A planning application submitted to North Lanarkshire Council seeks approval for nine light industrial units on the site of a former filling station in Cleland. The proposal includes design measures to limit impact on nearby residents, such as low‑rise structures and screening for the only adjacent home. The council is considering the application, with details available under planning reference 26/00412/FUL.

North Lanarkshire Council will establish a multi‑agency group to tackle rising graffiti incidents, which now exceed 1,000 cases annually, including an increase in sectarian and football‑related vandalism. The council will seek cooperation from police, football clubs and utilities firms, which have been criticised for limited efforts to clean affected equipment. Councillors highlighted community initiatives, including involvement from Motherwell FC, local volunteer groups and businesses providing designated spaces for graffiti art. All recommendations in the council report were unanimously approved.

Councillors in North Lanarkshire endorsed Trading Standards initiatives promoting consumer safety, including campaigns on hazardous second‑hand goods, an electrical item amnesty and guidance for online sellers. The council participated in a Scotland‑wide online selling project that identified regulatory gaps due to the lack of registration requirements. A child‑safety programme funded by the OPSS focused on risks from items containing button batteries, magnets and small electrical goods, amid data showing hundreds of related medical emergencies. Councillors agreed to promote these efforts and support future awareness campaigns to encourage safer purchasing decisions.

North Lanarkshire Council approved £100,000 in continued funding for Cumbernauld Theatre Trust for 2026–2027 to support cultural, social and leisure activities and boost community wellbeing. The decision follows the trust’s recovery efforts after Creative Scotland ended its funding in 2025, prompting new support from the Scottish Government and increased public donations. The trust is now working to update its business model for greater efficiency and sustainability, with strong income from visiting theatre companies and popular cinema screenings. Councillors unanimously backed the funding and praised the trust’s work.

North Lanarkshire Council approved plans for a solar power facility at the former Dalmacoulter landfill site near Airdrie. The project includes 1,750 photovoltaic panels, mounting structures, a transformer kiosk and a substation. Officials found the proposal aligned with environmental and green energy policies and noted minimal landscape impact due to existing tree cover. Habitat improvements are expected to offset any losses, leading to planning permission being granted with conditions.