LHS: 05 Promoting Community Regeneration (page 1)

To work in partnership to regenerate priority areas and develop sustainable communities.

1. To address issues of low demand for social rented housing by improving the popularity of social rented housing in priority areas by 2009, as identified in Action Plan.

2. To contribute to town centre and community regeneration priorities as identified in the North Lanarkshire Community Regeneration Statement and Economic Regeneration Framework.

3. Increase the opportunities for tenants to influence decision making in local authority housing services by increasing the number of Registered Tenant Organisations year on year.

North Lanarkshire has faced major economic restructuring and substantial environmental blight. However the economic revival of North Lanarkshire is continuing with a significant diversification of the economic base. Economic growth and employment growth are continuing and are forecast to keep growing but a rate well below national averages.

Forecasts suggest that there will be change in the balance between full-time and part-time working with a fall in the former compensated by an increase in the latter especially male part-time working. There will be an estimated decline in number of jobs for those in the unskilled jobs market.

Rates of unemployment, economic inactivity and worklessness are all above national averages. North Lanarkshire still has several areas that are affected by high levels of poverty and deprivation with high unemployment along with dependency on social security benefits and high levels of long term limiting illness. Particularly noticeable are the higher levels of male unemployment in North Lanarkshire. Male, female and total unemployment levels are all higher compared to the wider regional economies.

In terms of income and employment deprivation North Lanarkshire is rated second worst local authority area in Scotland.

Average household incomes across North Lanarkshire are significantly below national averages. The above trends may indicate a sustained demand for social rented housing and low cost home ownership in some LHMAs. However low demand for social rented housing exists in some areas in the Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Shotts, Viewpark and Wishaw LHMAs alongside low price owner occupation.

The North Lanarkshire Derelict Land Strategy has been successful in substantially reducing levels of derelict and vacant land.

However North Lanarkshire still accounts for 16% and 14% of all derelict and vacant land respectively in Scotland. The strategy is under review and future priorities will be identified. However a major element of future vacant land reduction and community regeneration will take place at the proposed Ravenscraig development. This will be guided by agreed Housing Action Plans.

North Lanarkshire's Town Centre Strategy stresses that town centres should offer an attractive choice of housing by price and tenure. There is a need to identify specific market imbalances and failures.

The Council, in conjunction with Communities Scotland and other housing providers, has been successful in regenerating a number of areas across North Lanarkshire involving a combination of demolition, stock transfer, refurbishment, new build and tenure diversification. The involvement of local communities has been key to the success of these initiatives.

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