POST-war new towns need a new strategy to take them into the future, it is claimed.
Home to hundreds of thousands of people, Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Glenrothes, Irvine and Livingston were created to meet the housing and employment needs of the post-war period.
The first, Glenrothes, was designated in 1948 with the last, Irvine, following in 1966.
Now MPs, MSPs and activists are calling for a joint strategy aimed at ensuring the sites remain sustainable.
A resolution has been submitted for consideration by the next SNP conference demanding a new approach to the “shared challenges and opportunities” faced by the towns as living and working patterns change.
Details were obtained by The National and decision-makers are yet to vote on whether the call will make it to the final conference agenda.
Proposed by the party’s Cumbernauld Branch, it says: “Despite their unique qualities, our New Towns also have shared challenges and opportunities as a result of their planned nature and time of development.
“It would be beneficial for these towns, and for Scotland, to develop a New Towns Action Plan, with a clear focus on helping to shape a sustainable future for these towns.”
The plan includes the creation of a New Towns Forum to allow leaders to share expertise, with “joint working between the towns at its core”.
The resolution is support by Mid-Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth and Central Ayrshire MP Philippa Whitford, among others.
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East MP Stuart McDonald, who also backs the move, told The National: “New towns are one of the great achievements of 20th-century urban planning and house building. Scotland’s five post-war new towns all embody an ambition to give every family a great place to live and a home fit for heroes. They remain some of Scotland’s most thriving population centres.
“By their nature, however, there are shared challenges as buildings and assets constructed at the same time begin to require simultaneous refurbishment.
“Likewise, some of the transport solutions of yesteryear need 21st-century updates.
“But there is no reason that we cannot use the plentiful greenspace assets and world-leading planning to our advantage in making these towns even more sustainable. By co-ordinating our work across Scotland’s new towns we can plan together, share best practice and learn from each other as we develop these towns.
“The Scottish Government already has an excellent town-centre strategy in place. By calling for a specific plan with joint working between the new towns we can build on this and ensure that Scotland’s New Towns remain thriving places to live for another 70 years.”
East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani, another supporter, said: “Having first arrived in East Kilbride some 23 years ago, I have seen challenges arise from the loss of big industry such as Motorola and Rolls Royce which have hit the town hard.
“Despite those losses, however, new opportunities have presented themselves.
“East Kilbride has a great community and the town has always retained its aspiration.
“East Kilbride has been addressing the challenges of the past, but with an emphasis on unlocking all of its future potential. Joint working with other new towns will be beneficial for all of Scotland.”
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