Revised proposals submitted for landmark EuroPark development on M8 corridor

A revised Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) for the landmark EuroPark project just off the M8 has been submitted to North Lanarkshire Council, including a major affordable housing allocation.Orchard Brae Ltd has submitted an updated PAN notice to the council for housing, retail, leisure and community facilities to complement the Eurocentral employment hub, taking into account the completion of the M8 motorway upgrade and community feedback from the initial round of consultations in 2016.With the new transport infrastructure now complete, the developer has been able to further hone its masterplan proposals to integrate with the new road layouts and press ahead with refreshed proposals for 1,600 private homes, collectively entitled ‘The Villages’, and more than 1,000 social affordable and market rent properties.The new plans see a reduction of homes from the 3,000 units which were originally mooted last year.Orchard Brae is in preliminary discussions with a major affordable housing provider and believes that this element of the proposals will help to provide a diverse range of houses suitable for all amid a vibrant new community, representing a significant contribution to North Lanarkshire’s housing supply.In addition, EuroPark will also be taken forward with housebuilding partner, Dundas Estates, which has committed to developing one of the first phases of the private development should it come into fruition.The mixed use proposals further include a health village, while new cycle and pedestrian routes have been earmarked for the site, intersected by the Monklands Canal and Calder Water, along with hotel, conference, retail and school facilities.As a key element of the site, Orchard Brae hopes to formalise and improve the green network locally, retaining at least one third of the land as open green space, which would include improved canal routes and heightened access and leisure opportunities for new and existing residents.The PAN notice pre-empts a detailed planning proposal which is expected to be submitted early 2018.Orchard Brae and the project team remain keen to consult closely with local residents and other key stakeholders as they look to further shape their proposals.They expect to embark on a second round of public consultation events later this month.