November 28 2007

Coatbridge town centre has been awarded the Plook on the Plinth Award and dubbed 'Scotland's most dismal place' as part of this year's Carbuncle Awards.

In a close-run race between the North Lanarkshire Town, Glasgow's Springfield Quay and two-time winner Cumbernauld, Coatbridge was announced as the winner on Monday. Prospect and architecturescotland editor Penny Lewis handed the award over to a member of the public outside the town's Quadrant shopping centre.

Lewis said: "Coatbridge could be a great place. It has a proud history and plenty of people living close to its centre. However, poor planning decisions and uninspiring urban design and architecture have destroyed the character of the place.

"North Lanarkshire Council has made a policy commitment to improve the quality of the built environment. The design of the proposed development on Coatbridge's main street will be a good measure of the council's ambition."

Springfield's Quay's Casino took the Zit Award for worst building while the new Silverburn shopping centre received the Pock Mark Award for worst planning decision.

To start voting for the next Carbuncle Awards click here.

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