An update on the proposed developments of a new community centre in Hillhead, Kirkintilloch and Community Hug in Lennoxtown has been submitted to East Dunbartonshire Council.

The developments, alongside the new Lairdsland Primary School in Kirkintilloch, will now move onto the next stage of delivery.

All three projects have been developed as part of the Council's participation in the Scottish Future's Trust 'Hub' initiative, which was put in place to enable public bodies to progress new developments through a Partnership Board which the Council is part of, to be delivered by a private sector partner.

The above facilities have had design and specification work and consultation carried out.

Lairdsland Primary School was subject to statutory and design consultations and the resulting design is now progressing through the formal planning process. The consultation processes for the designs at Hillhead and Lennoxtown have, to date, involved local stakeholder groups and these processes and the designs, summaries and updated costs were included in the Council report.


Council Leader Rhondda Geekie said she welcomed the news that the projects were developing.

She explained: "Moving to the next stage brings us closer to delivering these facilities to the community in line with our commitments.

"We have heard reports on the progress of these projects in recent months and are now in a position to move from the first outline stage to more detailed designs and costings.

"There will now be further opportunity for the communities in Hillhead and Lennoxtown to see the developing designs for these facilities in local information sessions in July, in advance of the projects progressing to the planning application stage.

"Engagement with the community on the range of services to be delivered through the Lennoxtown Community Hub, and the communities priorities will be carried out in August through a series of focus groups and online questionnaire.

"By granting approval to progress to the next stage of finalising designs and costs for these community initiatives, the developers will be able to submit their planning proposals and we move closer to building and delivering these sought after facilities to our communities."

A public event will take place on 16 July at Campsie Memorial Hall.

The first session will take place between 3pm and 5pm, with the second taking place between 6.30pm and 8pm.

(JP/CD)