March 29 2024

North Lanarkshire Council is progressing a twin-pronged programme to clear dysfunctional housing in the Carbrain district of Cumbernauld by progressing a planning application for new homes in tandem with a compulsory purchase order.

The local authority sought permission from the Scottish Government in March last year to purchase three apartment blocks to address issues around anti-social behaviour encouraged by unsafe high-level walkways, unlit blind spots and poorly defined ownership boundaries.

Now a planning application prepared by Coltart Earley shows how these problems can be addressed through the replacement of 169 flats with 72 Passivhaus standard homes at 1-204 Millcroft Road.

In a statement, Coltart Earley wrote: "The new housing development aims to create a new sense of place within Millcroft Road to Carbrain and Cumbernauld. This will be achieved by decreasing the density and reducing the urban wall of the existing blocks to enhance the openness and vistas between the new blocks.

"The existing high-level walkways are dysfunctional and anti-social and have been removed from the proposals. These walkways create unsafe, dark spaces with undefined ownership and a lack of accessibility to the development. All the proposed blocks have either level or lift access to all flats."

Replacement accommodation will improve accessibility by splitting accommodation between six blocks, permitting a sense of openness with newly established views. The approach also enables more clearly defined amenity spaces courtesy of MBLA Design. 

2 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 29 Mar 2024 at 10:49 AM

Only half a job -- it would appear that the blocks to the west of the footbridge are not part of this development.

The blocks redeveloped by Beazer in the late 80's turned out to be the worst of the lot so great that they are part of this project.

Real monument to Thatcherism they turned out to be -- they proved that the slum landlord vibe did not die out in the 60's with "Cathy come home".

I wonder where the current residents will end up -- quite a drop in density with the new plans?

#2 Posted by Jonjo on 1 Apr 2024 at 15:55 PM

These flats were spacious and attractive when built, and attracted a lot of attention when re-ordered in the 80s. The problems arising here were caused, as so often, by an element of anti-social tenants who have trashed the environment and made life he'll for their neighbours. Let's hope none of the troublemakers gets rehoused in the new development.

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