The redevelopment, in the heart of South Bridge Street, marks a significant milestone in North Lanarkshire Council’s town centre regeneration plans.

For nearly 150 years, Orrs served as a much-loved shopping destination for the local community. Following its closure in 2007, the vacant building became a concern for residents. However, after years of uncertainty and stalled plans by other developers, the council stepped in, and the redevelopment is finally coming to fruition.

Jim Logue, leader of the council has been a driving force behind the revival of the building, and he visited the site to inspect the final touches to the interior of the building.

Councillor Logue said: “We are thrilled to breathe new life into this landmark site. The redevelopment of Orrs represents a positive step forward for Airdrie, offering residents a reason to be proud of their town centre once again.

“This regeneration project has been a long time coming, but I’m sure local people will share my delight in finally seeing the building brought back to life. I’m looking forward to seeing the first tenants moving into these fantastic new flats in the coming weeks.”

The transformed building features 20 brand new, high-quality flats, addressing the area’s need for social housing. Additionally, there are two ground-level commercial properties offering exciting possibilities for retail or community spaces.

The council has been working in partnership with Wilson Developments on this project.