In February South Lanarkshire Council unveiled a masterplan that included a much-reduced amount of retail floorspace, taking account of changing shopping habits and a large drop in footfall in shops in recent years.

The masterplan instead places a new emphasis on town centre living, with around 450 new homes and civic spaces in the heart of Hamilton.

It has now been agreed that New Cross Shopping Centre, which was returned to council ownership in September 2021 in a very poor state of repair, should be closed as soon as possible and demolished to prepare the way for redevelopment.

This was agreed at Wednesday’s meeting of the Executive Committee, which also agreed that the council should waive its right to buy back the town’s Bairds building. The building is currently being marketed by JD Wetherspoon, after it decided not to proceed with plans for a new pub and restaurant there.

Council leader Joe Fagan said: “These really are significant steps in making our vision for a thriving Hamilton Town Centre a reality.

“Unfortunately, New Cross does not have a retail future. It would require massive investment which makes no sense in the current market. Instead, the area can have a new future where families can live and grow in a new town centre community.

“Waiving our rights to the former Bairds building will hopefully allow it to become another key part of that new future, and it would be good to see that landmark site once again part of a bustling town centre.”

The New Cross decision will allow the council to complete negotiations with remaining tenants to close the shopping centre, with plans to be drawn up for demolition at a future date.

The reports covering New Cross and the Bairds building were discussed in private by the committee so confidential business details could be heard.