ALEX Salmond wanted a new Scottish town to be built and named “Independence”, a close ally of the late former first minister has said.
Chris McEleny, who is currently bidding to be Alba’s depute leader, said he and Salmond had intended for the proposal to form part of the party’s 2026 Holyrood elections manifesto.
McEleny has now called for the idea to be taken forward, saying it would “twin charge the joint priorities of building new housing and attracting the energy intensive industries of the future to Scotland”.
The Alba candidate argued that Scotland has not designated a new town since the Scottish parliament was reconvened in 1999.
He said that doing so would boost economic growth and “benefit neighbouring towns and cities by accelerating housing delivery through the provision of new homes that people need”.
McEleny said: “Alex Salmond and I had a vision for a new Scottish town and we could think of no better name than a town called Independence.
“Scotland has an abundance of renewable energy potential. At the moment, the Westminster plan is to cable most of that energy south with no benefit to Scotland. What we should be doing is using that energy to attract the industries of today and tomorrow to Scotland by using the incentive of cheaper energy than anywhere else in Europe.
“Such an influx of highly skilled jobs would require the industries, the Labour force and the infrastructure to all be mutually beneficial to each other – that is why a new town would make sense.
“At the moment, new housing is squeezed into every bit of greenbelt in our towns and cities that developers can get their hands on. This puts an already struggling transport infrastructure under even more pressure.
“A new Scottish town has not been designated since not long after the Second World War, now is the right time to begin a discussion to make a town called Independence a reality.”
He added: “A new town – in the right location – will improve the quality of life in its neighbouring areas, everyone will benefit from the improved economic benefit and it’ll allow for a blank canvas to build quality homes, with first-class transport access and the amenities required to boost jobs and growth.”
Alba are currently holding a leadership contest, with MSP Ash Regan and former MP Kenny MacAskill both bidding to replace Salmond at the party’s head.
McEleny and former MP Neale Hanvey are both bidding to be depute leader.
