Latest news with #NorthLanarkshireCouncil
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Former Cumbernauld Cottage Theatre damaged in fire
Emergency services rushed to the former Cumbernauld Cottage Theatre following reports of a fire within the derelict building shortly after 2am on Friday, July 25. Firefighters tackled the blaze, eventually extinguishing it; however, the category C-listed structure - which is owned by North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) - had suffered 'significant' damage, with much of the roof destroyed. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed no one was injured during the incident. Following the fire, councillor Adam Smith, who represents Cumbernauld East, stated that residents are 'rightly angry' that the theatre, which was built in the 1700s, was left vacant for so long. Councillor Smith added that he remains hopeful that the Braehead Road building can be saved, but is disappointed that measures were reportedly not taken to 'better protect it'. He said: 'The fire at the former Cumbernauld Theatre building in the early hours of Friday morning was devastating to see, particularly as I secured the listing of the building and was the chair of the organisation previously working to take ownership of it as a community facility. 'As a listed building under the ownership of NLC, the council has a duty of care to the former Cottage Theatre and it's disappointing that measures were not taken to better protect it. 'The building is almost 300 years old and the external structure appears to have withstood the fire well, although much of the roof has been lost. 'I await the building survey report, however and hope there will not be a requirement for demolition. "People are rightly angry that the building had been vacant for so long and that the previous Community Asset Transfer request was rejected by North Lanarkshire Council, despite them having no plans for the site and having declared it surplus to their requirements. 'I remain hopeful that the building will survive and can have a positive community use in future.' READ NEXT: Glasgow youth project in desperate bid for new building NLC stated that it is engaging with other authorities to make a full assessment of the site. It has since been fenced off, and people are being asked to 'stay away' for safety reasons. The local authority also confirmed that a community asset transfer request for the former theatre had been made in 2022. This was refused; however, it was not stated why. An NLC spokesperson commented: 'A fire occurred at the former Cumbernauld Theatre in the early hours of Friday, July 25, which was attended by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 'There is significant damage to the building, particularly to the roof, and we are engaging with other agencies to make a full assessment. 'The area has been fenced off, and the public is asked to stay away from the building for safety reasons. 'A community asset transfer request was submitted in 2022 for the former Cumbernauld Theatre building. 'This request was considered by the Education, Children and Families Committee in 2023 and refused.' Police Scotland confirmed that enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Interested in building houses? This land is for sale for over £1.5m
North Lanarkshire Council has advertised a plot of land in Newmains for sale to companies interested in creating a new housing development. The site, located off School Road, has been advertised for offers over £1.5 million plus VAT as the council is waiving VAT exemption. The notice describes Newmains as a village and former mining community on the eastern edge of Wishaw and approximately 18 miles southeast of Glasgow. Vehicular access to the site is from School Road and Parkview Crescents, which respectively form the West and South boundaries. READ MORE: Woman died after carer lost control of wheelchair on shopping centre escalator Bidding, which is being conducted via the Public Contracts Scotland website, is open until September 2, after which date a shortlist of potential buyers will be issued along with commentary to help with the formulation of final bids, a second round of bidding which will only be open to those already shortlisted. Once a preferred bidder is known, final approval of the sale will be required from the council's finance and resources committee.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Surge in investment activity in North Lanarkshire
Commercial property sales in the area soared by 90 per cent in the past financial year alone, reaching a total value of £145.7 million. North Lanarkshire is becoming one of Scotland's most attractive places to do business, with a surge in investment activity in recent months. Recent figures reveal that commercial property sales in the area soared by 90 per cent in the past financial year alone, reaching a total value of £145.7 million. In addition, more than 1.6 million square feet of commercial space changed hands in 2024/25 - nearly double the figure recorded the year before. The rise in activity is being driven by a wave of confidence from businesses of all sizes, with both domestic firms and international players choosing to expand or base themselves in the area. Councillor Alex McVey, convener of the enterprise and fair work committee, explained: "These latest figures highlight continued economic growth across North Lanarkshire. "It's part of a co-ordinated approach by North Lanarkshire Council and our partners over the past few years. "For example, our INVEST pre-planning service is streamlining the process for developers and investors, helping accelerate projects and reducing time to market. "Companies also benefit from one-to-one business advice, training, recruitment support, and access to sector-specific grants and funding. "With a variety of land and accommodation on offer - from start-up units to large industrial premises - the area is an ideal place for businesses to thrive." Just this month two major Italian-owned companies, Eurostampa and Guala Closures, opened major new manufacturing facilities in North Lanarkshire. Eurostampa, a leader in high-quality label printing, has moved from Glasgow to a state-of-the-art facility in Cumbernauld. This £30 million investment, supported by Scottish Enterprise, represents the largest in the company's history. The new site nearly doubles the company's production space, enabling it to meet growing demand, especially from the Scotch whisky sector, while also improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Meanwhile, only a few miles away in Gartcosh, Guala Closures, a global specialist in innovative bottle closures, has officially opened its own cutting-edge facility after investing over €60 million. The plant, which spans 20,000 square metres and employs more than 300 people, is one of the largest investments ever made by an Italian company in the UK. The facility not only boosts Guala Closures' production capacity but also demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability. "Our new facility is designed for maximum efficiency and scalability, allowing us to optimise operations and create tangible value, both for our customers and for our business," said Andrea Lodetti, CEO of Guala Closures. With solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, and responsible water management systems, the site is built to the highest environmental standards. It also hosts a specialist R&D centre focused on high-end closures, helping the company develop bespoke, high-performance packaging solutions for the whisky industry and beyond. Councillor Kenneth Duffy, Provost of North Lanarkshire, attended the official openings of both businesses. He welcomed the news, saying: "North Lanarkshire has a reputation for innovation and sustainability, it really is one of Scotland's most exciting business locations. "We have an ever-growing base of investors who are creating new job opportunities for people who live here. "It's a very positive story and I'm proud that so many businesses are choosing to invest here." *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
North Lanarkshire tenants benefit from new windows and doors at their homes
As part of the council's housing investment, hundreds of homes are receiving high-quality window and door replacements through a £28 million contract with Sidey Solutions, running from January 2025 to January 2027. Tenants across North Lanarkshire are already benefiting from the council's £90.6 million Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme for 2025/26, with the installation of new windows and doors bringing added warmth, energy savings, and improved security for residents. As part of the council's housing investment, hundreds of homes are receiving high-quality window and door replacements through a £28 million contract with Sidey Solutions, running from January 2025 to January 2027. This forms part of the £45m planned investment in triple glazed windows and high-performance doors. The results are already making a difference to tenants like Joan Keenan in Newarthill who recently welcomed Councillor Michael McPake, Convener of Housing, into her home to see the improvements first-hand. 'This major investment will make a real and lasting difference to our tenants, keeping their homes safer, warmer, and more energy-efficient,' said Councillor McPake. 'It's fantastic to visit residents like Joan and see how these upgrades are already improving daily life. We're delivering on our promise to modernise our housing stock and support our communities with high-quality, energy-efficient homes.' Tenant Joan Keenan couldn't be more pleased with the results. 'The new windows and door have made a huge difference, and although just fitted a few weeks ago, my home already feels so much warmer and brighter,' she said. 'The fitters were brilliant and were finished in just a few hours and didn't leave any mess. They even managed to do it all without disturbing my garden, which I really appreciated.' The window and door installations form a key part of North Lanarkshire Council's wider housing investment programme, which includes: Over 1,300 solar panel installations, modern heating systems, and insulation improvements to help reduce energy bills by up to 30 per cent. New kitchens and bathrooms in homes reaching their renewal stage. Ongoing investment in window and door replacements, external wall insulation, and triple glazing. Installation of sprinklers in high-rise blocks and fire-rated doors in low-rise and sheltered housing. Upgrades to retirement housing, including new lifts and improved access for older tenants. This comprehensive programme supports the council's long-term goals to meet national housing standards, including EESSH2 and the upcoming Social Housing Net Zero Standard, helping ensure every tenant in North Lanarkshire has a home that's fit for the future. * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Glasgow Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
New windows and doors installed in North Lanarkshire homes
The new installations form part of North Lanarkshire Council's Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme for 2025/26. The council has awarded a £28 million contract to Sidey Solutions to fit high-quality windows and doors across hundreds of homes until January 2027. (Image: Supplied) This is part of a broader £45 million investment in triple-glazed windows and high-performance doors. Councillor Michael McPake, convener of housing, said: "This major investment will make a real and lasting difference to our tenants, keeping their homes safer, warmer, and more energy-efficient. Read more: Charities gain £1m from liquidation of Glasgow care home "It's fantastic to visit residents like Joan and see how these upgrades are already improving daily life. "We're delivering on our promise to modernise our housing stock and support our communities with high-quality, energy-efficient homes." (Image: Supplied) Newarthill tenant Joan Keenan also shared her positive experience. She said: "The new windows and door have made a huge difference, and although just fitted a few weeks ago, my home already feels so much warmer and brighter. "The fitters were brilliant and were finished in just a few hours and didn't leave any mess. "They even managed to do it all without disturbing my garden, which I really appreciated." The window and door installations form a key part of North Lanarkshire Council's wider housing investment programme. This includes the installation of more than 1,300 solar panels, modern heating systems, and insulation improvements to lower energy bills by up to 30 per cent. The initiative also focuses on introducing new kitchens and bathrooms in homes that require refurbishment, as well as ongoing investment in window and door replacements, external wall insulation, and triple glazing. Safety improvements such as the installation of sprinklers in high-rise blocks and fire-rated doors in low-rise and sheltered housing are also included.
