The problem is, not only have they stepped outside of the TIF remit, the Council is largely hopeless when delivering capital projects, don't be suprised if the £10m project is £20m by the time the final account is agreed.

Ravenscraig is going to suck the life out of all the surrounding towns, thanks to an open planning consent for unlimited retail floorspace, which the old guard in the Council (officers, members and MP) who should all have been put out to pasture long ago don't care about as they try to wind the clock back thirty years to another time.

Ravenscraig is going to suck the life out of all the surrounding towns - that seems an obvious & reasobale conclusion. On Radio Scotland this morning the Leader of North Lanarkshire Council described this as 'a new town really' on. Asked about the dire impact this might have on already struggling Lanarkshire centres like Motherwell, the Council Leader merely replied 'yes, there are those with that view' .When asked if the 'new town' was really all about a massive new shopping mall, the Leader said a mall was 'vital' (or essential?).

I recall the outgoing senior civil servant on regeneration in the Scottish Government stating some 2 or 3 years ago that the retail and property led model of regeneration was broken and that we now needed something else. It had anyway IMO, failed to deliver on sustainable regeneration.

One can only speculate and fret for the prospects for other town centres throughout Lanarkshire (not just North Lanarkshire) if the Ravenscraig 'new town' is realised and of the thinking behind it. Wider afield on a regional economy base; it highly debatable as to whether what is needed (or sustainbale?) at this stage in the economic cycle is yet another such out-of-town-development, with yet another 'massive mall'.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/edward-harkins/15/40/635

As though anyone wants to see anything built at Ravenscraig? Sell some land for private homes, plant trees on the rest...but the Labour councillors wouldn't get their power trip that way, would they? More fool the electorate of this bastard council, with no historical, social or political raison d'etre, for voting for these uneducated buffoons.

As though anyone wants to see anything built at Ravenscraig? Sell some land for private homes, plant trees on the rest...but the Labour councillors wouldn't get their power trip that way, would they? More fool the electorate of this bastard council, with no historical, social or political raison d'etre, for voting for these uneducated buffoons.

Why would anyone, who has the choice, buy a house on what was one of the most heavily contaminated sites in Europe? Plant trees on the whole site....