North Lanarkshire Council has produced an action plan to support economic growth in the year ahead, approved by the Enterprise and Growth Committee.

The Economic Regeneration Delivery Action Plan for 2022/23 sets out the work to be carried out to improve housing, town centres, business space, connectivity and roads infrastructure across North Lanarkshire.

Among the ambitious targets in the plan are:

• 1,894 new council homes to be completed, as part of the Homes for the Future programme plan to deliver 5,000 homes by 2035.

• Build 19 pilot eco homes at Dykehead Road, Airdrie with air source heat pumps, more solar panels and powerwall battery storage.

• Continue to reduce carbon emissions with initiatives such as creating or enhancing another 10km of Active Travel routes and developing a strategy for electric vehicle charging points.

• Complete action plans for three town centres, implement plans to redevelop vacant or derelict priority sites in town centres, and develop business cases for five town centre projects that will help secure Scottish Government investment.

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• Submit bids for funding from the UK Levelling Up Fund, Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for town centre visions.

• Invest at least £2.5 million to providing high quality business and industrial space, as well as securing another £11.64 million in funding from other organisations, including the private sector.

• Further develop digital networks across the area to improve connectivity for residents and businesses.

• Through the Glasgow City Region City Deal, complete a new transport interchange at Motherwell rail station, develop detailed designs for the East Airdrie Link Road and deliver the first phase of active travel facilities between Motherwell station and Strathclyde Country Park.

Councillor Allan Graham, Convener of the Enterprise and Growth Committee, said: "The Action Plan is a key document in the council’s plans to boost the local economy, create jobs and provide improved facilities for our residents.

"It includes millions of pounds of investment in projects in our towns and villages, in business and industrial sites, and in the transport infrastructure that links communities, within and beyond North Lanarkshire.

"All these projects are co-ordinated to make the best use possible of our investment and to regenerate communities in a way that improves economic opportunities for everyone."

The Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan was first published in 2019, with a supporting action plan published each year. To deliver on these plans, the council set aside £21.678 million from its current five-year General Services Capital Programme.