A massive new project has this week been unveiled, which if approved will see Blantyre have its very own University.
Planning permission has been lodged and granted in principle for a greenfield site at Sydes Brae, High Blantyre, between the current HSBC Building and the existing Crematorium. (Going up Sydes Brae on the left)
The huge development will see a new Eco University Campus being built incorporating academic, specialist laboratory support, sports and office buildings. It will mean new access roads coming in from Hamilton Technology Park and will have car parking, student accommodation, sports facilities, sports pitches including a hockey pitch, students’ union, retail and landscaping.
The site plan covers area from beside HSBC right up behind the Technology Park, all the way up to behind Westcraigs at the Crematorium. The buildings look rather large, and once again all documentation appears to be calling this Hamilton, despite a location very clearly into Blantyre’s boundaries.
However, there is no doubt what this project would mean for Blantyre. There would likely be many hundreds of local jobs on offer and of course a place for this current generation of children to go on to further education, right on their doorstep without the inconvenience of travel or living away.
The proposed University (named West of Scotland University) is now uploaded on to South Lanarkshire’s Planning portal and anybody who wants more information can check out all documentation by searching the portal for Planning Reference HM/16/0147
Have your say? Is this a welcome proposal for this area or a step too far for our surrounding fields and green areas?