The prominent former Orrs department store site has progressed with 20 new town centre homes and two commercial opportunities due for completion in August this year.

North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim Logue visited the site to inspect the progress and view other projects in the town.

A major housing development at Dykehead Road on the site of the former Holehills towers is nearing completion, with 150 new homes at the final stages, including 19 net zero homes, with new tenants ready to move in over the coming weeks.

Additional housing projects have already been completed at the former Alexander Primary School site and are underway at Northburn Avenue, and Clyde Valley Housing Association is also working on 16 new properties for rent at Mill Loan after the completion of 30 homes at Broomknoll Street.

Since 2009, seven primary schools have been completed around the town and two-family learning centres. Proposals are also being developed for the planned East Airdrie link Road that will significantly improve transport infrastructure. A recent £1.5m investment at Airdrie Leisure Centre has also seen a new FIFA-accredited 11-a-side football pitch developed alongside an additional 5-a-side sports court and a new running track installed.

Councillor Logue said: “We are continuing to enhance our regeneration plans for Airdrie as part of our overall ambition to boost growth across North Lanarkshire. It is exciting to see these projects taking shape and having a real positive impact in rejuvenating the town.

“By creating new retail, business, leisure, education and housing developments, we can help create an environment that encourages local businesses and provides greater opportunities for local people and the economy.

“Our vision is to make Airdrie and all our towns more attractive places for people to live, visit and work in. We want to redesign and repopulate our town centres to make them more sustainable in the future.”

He added: “Despite huge pressures on our budgets, we are determined to continue investing in developments which will benefit local families, our young people, businesses and make Airdrie a more vibrant town. We have a number of projects nearing completion or in the pipeline, but we are working hard to deliver further improvements for all local people.

“The needs of our residents and businesses have changed considerably in recent years, and we need to be creative and dynamic to meet the ongoing challenges of delivering the improvements our communities expect.”