Former steelworks site to be cleared for 2,000 homes

North Lanarkshire Council has received a planning application requesting permission for the extraction and remediation of 200 acres of land at Ravenscraig former industrial steelworks. 

Ravenscraig is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, with a masterplan for a mixed-use development that includes thousands of new residential properties and transport infrastructure.  

“To realise our masterplan for a self-sufficient community with high quality housing, transport links, education and employment opportunities, these remediation works are essential,” said Russell Wilkie, director at Ravenscraig Limited. 

The application, which seeks remediation of 200 acres of land, equates to just 20 per cent of the overall site.  

It includes Meadowhead, The Craig, Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, and a section of land north of New College Lanarkshire Motherwell Campus.   

However, certain parts of the former industrial steelworks facility site first require extensive remediation before building can take place.  

This includes the removal of remnants from steel production and deep reinforced concrete foundations – the extraction, recycling and backfilling of more than 2 million cubic metres of material.  

“We’re making great progress with SevenFourEight, our employment land which will soon become Scotland’s best connected industrial space and the Meadowhead remediation is another piece of the puzzle for residential development,” said Wilkie. 

“The remediated land will hold huge potential for the people of North Lanarkshire, with scope to provide over 2,000 homes.  

“We are confident in our proposals and its ability to unlock further opportunities for Ravenscraig and the wider Scottish economy.”  

In December 2022, Story Contracting partnered with Network Rail to transport and install the ‘largest concrete bridge in the UK’, built to take the West Coast Main Line over a (newish) dual carriageway between Motherwell and Ravenscraig.   

Both aspects were the first stage of the £127.2 million Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure (RAI) project, supported by £61.9 million from the Glasgow City Region City Deal – and part of ongoing regeneration works at the Ravenscraig former steelworks.    

“We recognise the importance of the proposed remediation works to enable further regeneration of a housing-led, sustainable community and look forward to continuing our engagement with them as they look to future residential, education and leisure development,” said a spokesperson from Ravenscraig Community Action Group (RCAG). 

A final planning decision is expected in 2025.  

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