In total, the schemes will provide the region with 359 vital additional early years places. The local authority’s investment is in keeping with Holyrood’s commitment to double the provision of free early learning and childcare, to 1,140 hours per child each year by the end of 2020.

The new centres will be:

• Netherton, Carbarns East, Wishaw
• Coltness, Innerleithen Drive, Coltness
• Carbrain, Beechwood Court, Cumbernauld
• Bonkle, Abernethyn Road, Crindledyke
• Petersburn, Petersburn Road, Airdrie
• Newhouse, Centre Street, Chapelhall

Construction is now underway on all sites barring at Coltness, where work will commence shortly. The projects will be completed before the end of summer this year.

Stuart Parker, Morgan Sindall Construction’s managing director in Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government’s prioritisation of early years teaching is both a long-term investment in our children’s futures and a vital step to ensure parents are more able to pursue work or education.

“We’re proud to be delivering early years centres across the country and very pleased to be working once again with North Lanarkshire Council, who are a valued and long-standing customer.” 

Michael McBrearty, chief executive of development partner hub South West Scotland, added: “We are excited to be embarking on another wave of early years projects in Lanarkshire with Morgan Sindall Construction.
“We look forward to seeing these six sites take shape over the next eight months.”

Last November, Morgan Sindall Construction was appointed to deliver three early years nurseries for South Lanarkshire Council through hub South West.