Work on the access road to the new University Hospital Monklands at Wester Moffat in Airdrie has taken a significant step forward with planning permission granted and confirmed support from the Scottish Government.
North Lanarkshire Council granted planning permission this week for a 2.3km route in Airdrie that will form part of the wider East Airdrie Link Road project. It will connect Towers Road with Forrest Street, where it becomes Airdrie Road (A89), with a signalised roundabout at Varnsdorf Way and will include active travel features, street lighting and landscaping.
Known as the Towers Road Link, this section of road also includes a bridge over the North Calder Water and a roundabout giving a second access to the hospital site from the main East Airdrie Link Road
The Scottish Government has confirmed its funding contribution to the project, which will provide access to the planned new hospital.
The East Airdrie Link Road forms a significant part of the Pan Lanarkshire Transport Corridor which will create a strategic route linking the M74 in the south to the M80 in the North, as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal Programme. The East Airdrie Link Road will run from just north of the M8, at the A73 Newhouse Interchange, to the A73 north of Stand and Riggend.
“Construction of the East Airdrie Link Road reflects our ambitions for North Lanarkshire, creating opportunities for business and industry, stronger connections between town centres, residential and employment areas, and improving transport links,” said Council Leader Councillor Jim Logue.
“With planning permission in place, we can now move forward with delivery of the Towers Road Link, the first stage in this ambitious project.
“The original plans for the East Airdrie Link Road were amended to facilitate the hospital access, and I welcome the confirmation by the Scottish Government of their share of the funding which I trust demonstrates their commitment to delivering a first-class hospital for the people of North Lanarkshire.”
North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire are working in partnership to deliver the project with work on the new road scheduled to commence in 2028 and complete in 2030.
Katharina Kasper, Chair of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “I’m very pleased agreement has been reached to construct the Towers Road Link to the new Monklands site. This decision underlines the powerful shared commitment between NHS Lanarkshire, the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council to deliver our state-of-the-art new hospital.”
Graeme Reid, Project Director, Monklands Replacement Project, added: “Access from the main East Airdrie Link Road has long been a fundamental part of our plans to ensure good connectivity to the new University Hospital Monklands. These two milestone decisions on funding and planning consent mean the community will now benefit from a second hospital access route through the Towers Road Link.”
Health Secretary Angela Constance said: “This is an important milestone for both the East Airdrie Link Road and the future University Hospital Monklands. Our funding commitment reflects the Scottish Government’s continued support for the infrastructure required to enable delivery of the new hospital at Wester Moffat. We look forward to continuing our partnership with North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire as the project progresses.
“A comprehensive redesign of the Monklands Replacement Project is well underway, with refreshed plans to be presented to Ministers for decision in 2027, so that construction can begin as soon as possible.”
North Lanarkshire Council is leading the development of the East Airdrie Link Road as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal.
Work is scheduled to start on the Towers Road Link in 2028 and it is planned to open in 2030.
More information on the project is available at East Airdrie Link Road | North Lanarkshire Council.
The Monklands Replacement Project entered a reset phase in June and work on a redesign of the hospital plans is being undertaken at pace by NHS Lanarkshire and partners including the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council. Full information in the MRP reset Q&As.
