July 15 2024

Former mining land east of Airdrie has been earmarked for a significant mixed-use expansion of the Central Belt town alongside the East Airdrie Link Road.

Planning permission in principle for a mixed-use development comprising homes, commercial and leisure uses is being sought for the land, which could also host a hotel and primary school.

Up to 3,000 homes arranged on a 'green grid' are proposed by property company Bidwells in a series of mixed-use neighbourhoods on land surrounded by Darngavil Road Dykehead Road Airdriehill Road Ballochney Road.

In a masterplan statement the applicant wrote: "The arrival of the East Airdrie Link Road means the future of current industrial allocations needs reviewed in the context of this new connectivity and the site needs reconfigured in support of delivery of the project. This application for planning permission in principle therefore brings forward a strategic masterplan to guide the long term planning of the site."

75 hectares of the 383-hectare site will be reserved for public greenspace, intersected by a network of active travel routes. The phased development is likely to be built between 2026 and 2039. 

14 Comments

#1 Posted by Mechelle Dinning on 16 Jul 2024 at 08:38 AM

I live in Airdrie and quite frankly dont want to live in a giant housing scheme these houses are going to built near where i stay , it will take away all the areas where the wildlife have been forced into, for what to build houses people cant afford to buy anyway.

#2 Posted by devilish advocaat on 16 Jul 2024 at 10:44 AM

The visuals are thoroughly underwhelming, and the information on the portal doesn't fill me with much hope that this will be anything other than a soulless, ubiquitous, cookie cutter housing estate.

Surely the collective we should be aiming for better than this on a site of this scale? Does the excitement come in the detailed design, or is this the high point from which we VE?

#3 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 16 Jul 2024 at 12:03 PM

Not quite the whole story -- need to add the adjacent Berryhill development to see the full scale of planned expansion of Airdrie.

3500 extra houses -- even if it is staged over 15 years I don't think that the Airdrie property market will be able to cope.

Plus it is a very bleak location -- the lack of farming on the site shows how poor the ground conditions are.

Overall -- tough gig.
If they can get the trees to grow they will be doing well.

#4 Posted by D to the R on 16 Jul 2024 at 13:33 PM

#1 ... some dreadful grammar in there. Took me three reads to understand what you meant.

#3 ... alternative use - not farming / not housing ?

#5 Posted by Eavesdropper2000 on 16 Jul 2024 at 14:39 PM

At first glance, I find the birds-eye renders to be quite appealing with lots of greenery however the house types should require some development for full planning as they lack any creativity. The overall layout of the site also poses some questions:
1. Is the waste to energy facility ideally situated adjacent to a housing estate?
2. Can the local secondary schools cope with the new capacity posed?
3. Wouldn't it be better to expand the local district amenities instead of having a large disconnected 'hub' which encourages car travel?
I hope the consultation is thorough; the proposal is adequately scrutinised and not just given a yes/no response.

#6 Posted by Tracey Finnigan on 16 Jul 2024 at 21:58 PM

So more country side beauty going to be destroyed, place is turning into a concrete jungle sadly.

#7 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 17 Jul 2024 at 10:22 AM

#6 -- your house was once green fields too.
Very poor site -- elevated / very exposed / peat cutting was as good as it got.
Sprawl vibe to the fore -- it will need a lot of hype and a lot of successful tree planting to sell out the development even over 15 years.
Airdrie does Abronhill -- not good.

#8 Posted by Philip on 17 Jul 2024 at 11:05 AM

#4 I am sure #1 really appreciates your rank, condescending comment.
Architect by any chance..?

#9 Posted by AirdrieLocal on 17 Jul 2024 at 12:40 PM

I wonder if this work will disturb the large rat presence that the are seems to have.

#10 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 17 Jul 2024 at 13:06 PM

#9 -- Please don't talk about the residents of Glenmavis in that manner ...

Glenmavis vs New Monkland -- Discuss?
What is driving the change to the name of the village?

#11 Posted by TheBotanist on 17 Jul 2024 at 13:13 PM

On the topic of grammar and the like, its always good to spell check before publishing - see image captions..."Thousands of homes arranged alomng tree-lined avenues could be built".

#12 Posted by devilish advocaat on 17 Jul 2024 at 13:35 PM

#10 - discuss what?

#13 Posted by Dan on 17 Jul 2024 at 22:40 PM

Right next to a large landfill and brand new incinerator...

#14 Posted by Zorba on 18 Jul 2024 at 10:45 AM

End of the green belts,so much for country living.Will these houses be for migrants and not for the indigenous tax payers.

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