A councillor has hit out at North Lanarkshire Council and its arm’s length property department, North Lanarkshire Properties (NLP), after seeing local businesses look elsewhere for units due to delays.
Several properties on Wishaw Main Street and Windmillhill Street in Motherwell have been empty for years, with Labour councillor Kenneth Duffy, who represents the Motherwell South East & Ravenscraig ward, calling on the local authority to do more to fill the vacant units.
He said: “The delays to getting these units up to a rentable standard is driving local businesses away from our towns.
“North Lanarkshire Council claims it has a positive plan for our communities, its businesses and its people but the ‘For Let’ signs everywhere on our high streets demonstrate a different message, despite the interest shown by people to invest.”
Business owners have also revealed to Councillor Duffy they will be forced to take their businesses elsewhere due to the delays.
One, who asked not to be named, said: “We would love to be based on our own local high street and within walking distance for most of our team.
“There seems to be a general lack of willingness from the council and NLP to support local businesses and bring these properties to the market.
“Unfortunately, this means that we have been forced to look elsewhere for new premises.”
Councillor Duffy has received replies from the council and NLP in relation to the problems faced by businesses.
James McKinstry, the council's head of asset & procurement solutions, said: “The team have previously outlined that due to the scale of the works required to any of the vacant properties, we are preparing a programme of works for each individual property as North Lanarkshire Properties (NLP) require to review the funding streams to progress these works within available funds.
“I am sure you will appreciate, NLP operates independently from the council and its income stream has been impacted by Covid with appropriate management action being taken to minimise the impact over the period however this is under constant review with Covid recovery still an ongoing risk.
“NLP are preparing a programme of works across its full commercial estate to target areas to increase rental income and works will require to be prioritised accordingly within funds available which will be shared following a wider review by the new board members.”
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