Plans to develop a site near Ravenscraig Regional Sports Complex with new business premises have been approved by North Lanarkshire Council.
The local authority’s planning committee has approved an application from Fusion Assets, proposing four new buildings on a vacant, three hectare brownfield site to the west of the sports facility.
Totalling more than 5,700 sq m in floor area, the development – which is classified as business, general industry, storage or distribution – would consist of three single occupancy buildings, each with its own service yard and parking. A fourth building would be split into six smaller units sharing a yard and parking facilities.
The application also proposes creating a new access junction connecting the site to the Ravenscraig Employment spine road and includes a total of 118 parking spaces, including 12 disabled parking spaces and 14 electric vehicle charging bays, plus capacity for bicycles.
No objections were received by North Lanarkshire Council during the consultation and the committee unanimously approved it, subject to conditions recommended by planning officers.
The project aims to provide industrial space for up to 10 businesses – both larger companies and smaller operations.
The six-acre site is part of SevenFourEight, a new production and logistics hub at the heart of Ravenscraig.
It follows the sale of land by Ravenscraig to Fusion Assets last year. Since then, enabling works have been completed with funding from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land programme, including earthworks and drainage infrastructure.
Russell Wilkie, director at Ravenscraig, commented: “As one of Europe’s largest regeneration initiatives, Ravenscraig is evolving into a self-sufficient community with housing, education, transport and employment opportunities.
“SevenFourEight is a crucial piece in this puzzle, set to become one of Scotland’s best-connected industrial hubs, with ideal access to both the M74 and M8 motorways.
“This project, led by Fusion Assets is a significant step forward in turning our vision for Ravenscraig into a reality, bringing high-quality employment opportunities and investment into the area.”
Murray Collins, managing director of Fusion Assets, added: “Planning approval for our new development at Ravenscraig represents a significant milestone in the transformation of this part of the Ravenscraig site into a major new business location that will bring jobs to the local area.
“I’m sure we will see further development on the site as a result of Fusion Assets initial investment in plot one.”
Ravenscraig Steelworks closed in 1992, turning the industrial hub into a vacant brownfield site.
Ravenscraig Ltd is a not-for-profit development, with all income from land sales reinvested into the regeneration of the area.
A revised Ravenscraig masterplan was approved in 2020, focused on sustainable and inclusive growth, as a mixed-use site which supports a self-sufficient community.
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