Council Releases Funding For 4Th Stand

North Lanarkshire Council today (Tuesday) agreed to purchase £1.6 million of additional shares in Broadwood Stadium (Cumbernauld) Ltd (BSCL), which will allow development of a fourth stand at the stadium to get underway, as agreed between Cumbernauld Development Corporation, BSCL and developers, Walker Group before local government reorganisation.

Planning permission was granted in October last year for the construction of the North Stand at Broadwood Stadium, providing more than 2,200 seats as well as accommodation for disabled persons. However, a previous meeting of North Lanarkshire’s Policy and Resources Committee had requested further reports before a final commitment was made to the capital investment.

Today’s meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee provided that commitment, authorising the release of the approved funds for the purchase of the additional shares. These monies will provide the funding for the fourth stand, which will establish a 10,000-seater stadium at Broadwood.

It is intended that this would then lead to the development of further community facilities within Broadwood in order to meet the needs of the expanding local community.

Councillor Jim McCabe JP, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, commented: “The development of the fourth stand at Broadwood Stadium is an important milestone in our plans to deliver further community facilities for Cumbernauld and the surrounding areas.

“Broadwood already supports community sports clubs such as a local gymnastic club and boxing club and we want to build on that to deliver a first-class community resource in the heart of North Lanarkshire.

“I am delighted we can now instruct BSCL to progress this development.”

Councillor Jim Logue, Chairman of BSCL, commented: “Broadwood already has a lot to offer, but we want to enhance the facilities available to the local community. This development will provide added value to both North Lanarkshire Council and Broadwood Stadium (Cumbernauld) Ltd and will make Broadwood compliant with Scottish Premier League standards.

“There has been a declaration of intent from the board of Clyde Football Club to install under-soil heating on the playing surface, which will add to the overall improvement of the facility. And we are maintaining regular dialogue with the club to progress outstanding matters to a satisfactory conclusion.

“Assurances have been secured in relation to the timeframe required for the construction of the fourth stand and we will now get to work on completing a first-class sports stadium for the residents of North Lanarkshire.”