South Lanarkshire councillors have welcomed a mixed use development in Hamilton.
At the planning committee meeting on Tuesday (September 13), elected members warmly approved plans to develop a mixed use development at the site of the former University of West of Scotland on Almada Street.
The new site will see 286 new homes being built, an energy centre as well as restaurants and cafes, offices, a possible care home and potentially a hotel.
The development will be made up of 129 affordable homes and 157 private properties. The majority of housing units will be flats, with most having two rooms or less.
The site will be split into two areas – the main one will be within the southern section of the development and will form part of the residential proposal for phase one and phase two of the overall site of the mixed used development.
The smaller part of the site is located within the central part of the overall space and would be used for an energy centre to serve this phase and potential future phases of development.
There will be 294 parking spaces across the site with 18 being accessible. Footpaths and cycle paths will connect the four key routes surrounding the development from Almada Street, Craig Street, Bothwell Road and Beckford Street.
Chair of the planning committee councillor Richard Nelson (Larkhall) welcomed the plans, and said: “I do really think this is a good news story for Hamilton and in my opinion as chair of this committee this is the start of developing this site at Hamilton and it is a pleasure to introduce it today.”
Councillor Mary Donnelly (Hamilton West and Earnock) echoed his thoughts, and said: “I’d like to welcome this innovative development.
"I did have the opportunity in 2020 to see the plans at the old Almada College to see what was coming on stream, I think it was innovative. I encourage it to come forward.”
Councillor Davie McLachlan (Hamilton North and East) raised the issue over losing parking spaces in the area, and said: “I did express concerns at the time when it was talked about because on the corner of the site there’s a large car park, can you remind me if it’s still part of the plan to take away the car park which is there.”
Council officers stated that during phase one of the plans there will be a loss of 28 parking spaces as part of current proposals.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Why not head to our page and give us a like and share.
*Don't miss t he latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here .
