Progress on the access route to the new University Hospital Monklands at Wester Moffat, Airdrie, has accelerated after North Lanarkshire Council granted planning permission and the Scottish Government confirmed its support.

The council this week approved a 2.3km section in Airdrie, known as the Towers Road Link, which will form part of the wider East Airdrie Link Road. It will connect Towers Road with Forrest Street, which becomes Airdrie Road (A89), and include a signalised roundabout at Varnsdorf Way as well as active travel features, street lighting and landscaping.

The scheme also comprises a bridge over the North Calder Water and a roundabout providing a second access to the hospital site from the main East Airdrie Link Road. The Scottish Government has confirmed its funding contribution to support access to the planned hospital.

The East Airdrie Link Road is a major component of the Pan Lanarkshire Transport Corridor, creating a strategic route between the M74 in the south and the M80 in the north under the Glasgow City Region City Deal programme. It will run from just north of the M8, at the A73 Newhouse Interchange, to the A73 north of Stand and Riggend.

"Construction of the East Airdrie Link Road, reflects our ambitions for North Lanarkshire, creating opportunities for business and industry, stronger connections between town centres, residential and employment areas, and improving transport links," said Council Leader Councillor Jim Logue.

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"With planning permission in place, we can now move forward with delivery of the Towers Road Link, the first stage in this ambitious project.

"The original plans for the East Airdrie Link Road were amended to facilitate the hospital access, and I welcome the confirmation by the Scottish Government of their share of the funding which I trust demonstrates their commitment to delivering a first-class hospital for the people of North Lanarkshire."

The council and NHS Lanarkshire are partnering on delivery, with construction of the new road scheduled to begin in 2028 and complete in 2030.

Katharina Kasper, Chair of NHS Lanarkshire, said: "I'm very pleased agreement has been reached to construct the Towers Road Link to the new Monklands site. This decision underlines the powerful shared commitment between NHS Lanarkshire, the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council to deliver our state-of-the-art new hospital."

Graeme Reid, Project Director, Monklands Replacement Project, added: "Access from the main East Airdrie Link Road has long been a fundamental part of our plans to ensure good connectivity to the new University Hospital Monklands. These two milestone decisions on funding and planning consent mean the community will now benefit from a second hospital access route through the Towers Road Link."

Health Secretary Angela Constance said: "This is an important milestone for both the East Airdrie Link Road and the future University Hospital Monklands. Our funding commitment reflects the Scottish Government's continued support for the infrastructure required to enable delivery of the new hospital at Wester Moffat. We look forward to continuing our partnership with North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire as the project progresses.

"A comprehensive redesign of the Monklands Replacement Programme is well underway, with refreshed plans to be presented to Ministers for decision in 2027, so that construction can begin as soon as possible."

North Lanarkshire Council is leading development of the East Airdrie Link Road as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal. Work on the Towers Road Link is due to start in 2028 and the route is planned to open in 2030. The Monklands Replacement Project entered a reset phase in June and redesign work is being taken forward by NHS Lanarkshire with partners, including the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council, with further details available in the MRP reset Q&As.