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South Lanarkshire Council has launched a new website to showcase the "bold vision for Scotland's first and biggest new town".
The East Kilbride masterplan envisages radical changes to the use of the town centre amid the decline of in-person shopping, and aims to create a mix of urban living and civic areas.
The proposals, which local residents and communities are being consulted on, include:
• A reduction of 42% in retail floorspace
• Up to 400 new homes in a new town centre neighbourhood
• A new Civic Hub
• A food supermarket as an anchor retailer
• Transforming tired entrance points, including a new hotel
• The vision is the result of a unique partnership across the private and public sectors, including the town centre's asset managers and administrators, property experts, leading architects and South Lanarkshire Council.
Mark Hewett, Director at Scoop Asset Management, said: "The EK masterplan has been created in response to the unprecedented economic challenges facing not only East Kilbride but town and city centres across the country.
"We are confident that this visionary mixed-use development, which will see a transformation of EK town centre, will pave the way for future investment in the town over the coming years."
Four key parts of the shopping centre have been identified for significant change, including the demolition of the Centre West area to create space for the new neighbourhood, which would feature a mix of private and affordable housing, from flats for first time buyers and downsizers to larger homes for families.
David Booth, Executive Director of Community and Enterprise, said South Lanarkshire Council was involved in a number of roles – as owner and occupier of parts of the town centre and as the planning and roads authority.
He added: "We are also the effective custodians of the town centre and we want a successful East Kilbride as part of a successful South Lanarkshire. Without strategic intervention the town centre will continue to decline and fall further behind its neighbours. We therefore need to show ambition in order to realise the town's potential."
As well as the website, a shop in EK Town Centre has been set up for people to drop in and discuss the proposals with dedicated staff. It will be open from 10am to 4pm from Thursday this week (21 September) until Saturday (23 September). It will also be open on Thursday and Friday the following week (28 and 29 September), again from 10am to 4pm. An estimated 2,000 people visited the shop last week when it opened its doors for the first time.
