AN application to make Cumbernauld town centre a listed building could make plans to demolish the centre difficult to achieve, according to North Lanarkshire Council.
The current building’s brutalist architectural design has divided opinion in the local community and has been altered extensively since its unveiling.
And now the council is in favour of an alternative building and has proposed a new “multi-purpose town hub which will become the lifeblood of communities and be a constant in people’s lives”.
The council say the new hub would offer a range of services including education, leisure, public services, commercial opportunities and flexible workspaces. They argue the proposed development would bring “communities closer in one central area”.
Speaking of the need to reshape the town centre, the council wrote: “While the building represented the future in the 1960s, it is clear that it does not fit with residents’ vision of what they need from a modern town centre. The structure has been through significant changes over the years since it was originally built in 1963-67.
“The council is committed to ensuring that Cumbernauld – and all the towns in North Lanarkshire – is a vibrant, living town and our overall investment in town centres, hundreds of millions of pounds, is about ensuring a sustainable future.”
The council have taken the first steps to implement their plans by agreeing to a deal in principle to purchase the town centre.
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However, the plans are in danger of being kiboshed by an application from a member of the public to Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to have the current town centre listed.
Listed buildings are given protection in law due to special historic or architectural interest and so plans to knock them down are unlikely to succeed.
HES is now asking for the local community to offer their opinions to try and enhance their understanding of the situation and the various competing interests. A link to the consultation can be found here.
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Writing in a Facebook post, SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn said: “Following the news of the planned demolition of the old town centre building as part of the Council’s plans to invest in the town centre an application to give the building listed status was submitted to Historic Environment Scotland.
“Listing the building will mean that demolition and redevelopment of the town centre could prove impossible.
“Given the overwhelming support I have heard from constituents for the long overdue and much needed regeneration of the town centre, I will be making a submission to HES to recommend that they reject the application for listing.”
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