Latest news with #townrevitalization
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Our ‘soulless' high street is being demolished & rebuilt as swish new ‘town of the future' – it's a LONG overdue change
LOCALS are celebrating the rebuilding of their town high street after it was dubbed 'soulless' and in desperate need of change. 4 In 1947, East Kilbride held the title of Scotland's first ever 'new town', however, less than 80 years later, it is being knocked down. 4 Located just south of Glasgow, the proposals for the town centre could see more than a third of the town demolished. This would make way for an impressive new supermarket measuring 40,000 feet, a hotel and a public square. Local, Danny Fitzpatrick, 33, told the Metro: 'The town has had some really tough times in the last two decades, but I hope and believe there is a kind of renaissance on the horizon.' Danny was born and raised in the town and feels hopeful about the South Lanarkshire Council's new proposals. As he reflected on growing up in the area, he explained that the town used to be an 'epicentre.' But added: 'It isn't a shadow of what it used to be.' In 1930, East Kilbride was home to just 900 residents. But thanks to being selected as one of the five new towns in Scotland to serve as the solution to the post-war housing shortage, over the span of a few decades the town completely transformed. Now with a population of roughly 75,000 the post-war scheme equipped the once small village with council offices, a police station, and even Scotland's first Olympic size swimming pool. It has even been affectionately nicknamed 'Polo Mint City,' due to its extensive roundabout system. 4 4 However, over the last 20 years, East Kilbride has been suffering, with many businesses closing and locals labelling the town centre "grim." Among those to pack up and leave the area were the Motorola factory in 2009, Rolls-Royce in 2015, and the main shopping centre in 2022. But Danny remains optimistic, saying: 'The Rolls-Royce days may be over, but I think the future is good for EK.' The council plans to spend a staggering £62,200,000 on the project, in a bid to make use of the more than 500,000 square feet of empty space across East Kilbride. Threesixty Architecture, the company fronting these new plans, argue that the last decade has seen towns across the UK suffer. Worsened even further by Covid, they claim that retail is on the decline, leaving areas like East Kilbride to suffer. The document reads: 'The master plan is the opportunity for the town to rediscover its identity and purpose.' The Sun has approached South Lanarkshire Council and Threesixty Architecture for comment.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Bedford "gateway' road fully reopens a year after work began
Two lanes of a "gateway" into a town are reopening nearly a year after work began to transform and regenerate the August, one lane on Midland Road, Bedford, has been shut to allow for work to repave, widen and improve the Luthra, from Bubbly's Travel, welcomed the reopening but said construction had had an impact on every business in the area and most customers had "stayed away". Andrea Spice, a Conservative at Bedford Borough Council, said the authority had worked really hard to "accommodate businesses". Midland Road will reopen to traffic both ways on Wednesday, the council said. The improvement work was part of the "Midland Road public realm improvements", which has been paid for through the Bedford Town Deal, a £22.6m government investment aimed at revitalising the town centre. Mr Luthra added: "Most of the customers stayed away, they don't come on this side, you talk to someone [they say] 'oh Midland Road nah, we're not going there because of the road closure'."It has affected every business a little bit here, the restaurant next door has suffered a lot." Ms Spice, portfolio holder for economic growth, planning and prosperity, said: "There were parts of the town you could park and walk to, you might not have been able to park right outside, I appreciate that."I hope shopkeepers know we've tried really hard to accommodate them and their businesses."We have improved the pavement, we've re-laid it, we have improved the pavement, it looks clean, it looks fresh, it's wider in parts."We've tried really hard to lift this part of town, which is a massive gateway for us because if you come off the train and you want to get into the town centre this is the road you walk down and this is your first impression of Bedford." Samantha Laycock, chair of the Bedford Town Deal Board, said: "This is just the beginning of Midland Road's transformation." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
