Debates

The plans for the regeneration generated a certain amount of controversy; local residents and businesses were worried about the proposed shopping facilities. It is feared that new shopping facilities in the town centre will destroy jobs and nearby businesses and town centres (e.g. Motherwell and Wishaw) will suffer. Nearby shopping centres such as Motherwell Shopping Centre, the Regent Shopping Centre in Hamilton and East Kilbride Shopping Centre have complained that new shopping facilities may take away their regular customers,^[18] a statement that North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim McCabe disputes.^[19]

Ravenscraig today

The first major development, the new Motherwell College, was the first to be completed. The building aimed to attract in excess of 20,000 students. The new regional sports facility was also completed and opened on 4 October 2010.

The final part of Phase One, which is construction of houses to the north of the new town, was next to begin. The housing development of Phoenix Park will eventually hold 850 new homes, some of which had been completed by 2012.^[20]

Also, another important step towards full completion of the project has been met, with funding being approved for the second phase.^[21][22] Phase two of the construction, which includes shopping facilities, was planned to start around mid-2012.^[23]

A new dual carriageway that would link the new town with the M8 and M74 motorways has been given approval,^[24][25] with an extra £10 million to bring the project forward agreed in June 2012.^[26] The new carriageway would also travel through neighbouring North Lanarkshire settlements, Motherwell and Carfin.^[19]

In September 2012, the first building of a new BRE Innovation Park was opened, with the visitor centre building officially completed.^[27] A total of ten energy-efficient buildings were expected to be built in the park.^[28][29]

On 14 November 2012, plans were also un-veiled to build a new Marston's pub-restaurant directly to the north-east of the Sports Facility. Despite favourable first impressions, the proposal did not receive planning permission at the time.^[30]

Progress slowed on the development due to adverse economic factors,^[31] and a revised masterplan was submitted in 2018,^[32] being approved the following year.^[33][34] The planning report, which differed from the earlier master vision with the amount of retail space reduced by around 60% and no short term prospect for a new railway station, anticipated that progress would be slow but steady across the site, not being completed until around 2045.^[1]

Transport

As part of the regeneration, the transport links to Ravenscraig will be greatly improved. There will be a new transport interchange within walking distance of the new town centre offering bus services to Glasgow and Lanark. There will be easy access to public transport throughout the site including dedicated business routes. There will also be a new railway station built that will link to the broader public transport network. The Argyle Line travels through the area, so trains could easily travel to major Scottish railway stations such as Glasgow Central from Ravenscraig. This has not happened.

In future, the Greenlink Cycle Path may be extended to connect Ravenscraig with a direct route to Strathclyde Country Park.^[35]

The 92 bus service is due to be introduced in 2023 by Stuarts Coaches and will link Ravenscraig with Motherwell.^[36]

Motherwell FC

The local professional football team, Motherwell Football Club is one of the possible purchasers of the site for a new stadium, leaving behind their home of 113 years, Fir Park. In 2008, Mark McGhee, then-manager of the club, had said that he and the directors held tentative discussions with North Lanarkshire Council about building the new stadium on the site.^[37][38][39] Despite indications that the move may be in procress of becoming a reality,^[40][41] a move to Ravenscraig in the short-term would be impossible.^[42]