‘Major refinement’ reduces housing provision at planned EuroPark development

Orchard Brae Ltd has submitted revised plans for its EuroPark proposal in North Lanarkshire, reducing the scale of development and removing all planned development to the north of Calderbank with an attendant reduction in housing provision by 250 homes.

'Major refinement' reduces housing provision at planned EuroPark development

The developer said the “major refinement” follows an extensive review of a constructive community and stakeholder consultation process.

Located on the M8 corridor adjacent to the Eurocentral and Maxim business hubs, Orchard Brae said EuroPark is recognised as being one of the key factors necessary to fully unlock the inherent economic and employment potential within the Maxim/Eurocentral growth corridor.



Revised down from 2,600 to 2,350 units, the proposal includes a blend of private homes, affordable and social housing as well as new, dedicated, education provision through the creation of a new school within the development.

The centrepiece of the EuroPark project continues to be the delivery of a new country and heritage park, featuring the Monkland Canal and Calder Water. With the removal of the Calderbank development, the parkland area has been increased and now spans 66% of the overall site (162.4 hectares).

The park will retain and where necessary, will improve the existing Woodhall and Faskine woodlands, the nature trails and the canal as well as providing the modern community and leisure infrastructure required by its residents. This includes the proposed state-of-the-art football and sports complex which is set to benefit over 600 young people from across the region in partnership with Gartcairn FC/FA, which will feature a modern sports complex with UEFA sized pitches, changing rooms, a clubhouse and associated parking.

A core part of the EuroPark is enabling material investment in enhancing the local transport network, improving trans-regional links and helping to ensure that it is resilient and fit for both the future needs of its community and the environment, this includes plans to upgrade the junction from the country’s main motorway removing local bottlenecks.



A mobility hub will be also created within the development to enable residents and employees to easily connect with North Lanarkshire and the rest of the country by using more sustainable, green forms of transport. This will also form a base for communal electric vehicle charging, car club operations and the shared public transport options and facilities which increasingly reflect how society operates.

In addition, Orchard Brae has augmented and improved the plans for the neighbourhood centre, creating a community facility, a home working hub, health facilities, a care home, petrol filling station, hotel and restaurant, fast food, an energy centre, and a pub/restaurant.

Stephen Tucker, master planner and spokesperson for Orchard Brae, said: “We are delighted be taking forward our plans with North Lanarkshire council and incorporating the feedback of the community. This input has been invaluable and has helped shape, focus and refine our plans to create something, that we believe, is very special for the area and for Scotland.

“Our plans reflect the site’s strong inherent sustainability and our intent that it becomes an example of zero net carbon development for others to follow.



“Our green master plan, which sits at the heart of our proposals, puts great emphasis on retaining green space for the public, creating an outward-looking, nationally important parkland community that enhances and embraces its environment, breathing new life and diversity into underused and somewhat neglected land.”

Keddie Consulting was commissioned to carry out a socio-economic study of the EuroPark proposals and assess their impact on the area. This research has validated the positive impact of the development and revealed that its economic benefits were significantly broader than the immediate impact of unlocking in excess of £350 million of new inward investment.

This direct investment will create 4,290 construction jobs during the development period alongside 789 permanent jobs at completion.; this is forecast to generate additional domestic and non-domestic council tax revenue for the region of £11m per year.

Keddie also identified a significant wider regional economic benefit for the surrounding communities, providing a marked long-term boost to the region through EuroPark’s regeneration delivering annually in excess of £8.6m of economic value from new jobs, and £5m of incremental value each year to the region through a reduction in both unemployment and homelessness.



The development will also complement Maxim and assist it with delivering its full potential driving more high-quality employment into the area.

David Keddie, director of Keddie Consulting, added: “The economic benefits for the area are both sizeable and sustainable. They come at a time when they can make a meaningful difference to the surrounding community. We have embraced and enhanced the green credentials of the development whilst creating a mixed-use scheme that will support the people of North Lanarkshire in their lives and careers for many years to come.

“We are excited to be taking our plans forward and be continuing our dialogue with the local community, North Lanarkshire Council and the statutory consultees.”

Due to the changes, the application will be open for further public comment for a period of 28 days until November 20.


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