Muirhouse, North Lanarkshire Explained

Country:Scotland
Coordinates:55.7735°N -3.9663°W
Os Grid Reference:NS766553
Map Type:Scotland
Official Name:Muirhouse
Unitary Scotland:North Lanarkshire
Lieutenancy Scotland:Lanarkshire
Constituency Westminster:Motherwell and Wishaw
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Motherwell and Wishaw
Central Scotland
Post Town:MOTHERWELL
Postcode Area:ML
Postcode District:ML1 2
Dial Code:01698
Static Image Name:Muirhouse Tower Blocks 2.jpg
Static Image Caption:Tower Blocks in Muirhouse

Muirhouse is a residential suburb in the south-east of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland,[1] coming under the Motherwell South East & Ravenscraig council ward[2] and bordering the Flemington neighbourhood in the town,[3] plus the Craigneuk and Netherton areas of Wishaw. It consists of thirteen tower blocks (each over high with at least 18 floors, constructed between 1963 and 1970),[4] amidst low rise flats and numerous houses.

The area has two Roman Catholic schools (one being the nearby Our Lady's High School), a non-denominational school, a community centre, several small shopping area, two takeaway shops, tanning salon, dog groomers, delicatessen and a pub. Muirhouse is surrounded by countryside, including the Dalzell Estate,[5] and has many walking routes into Motherwell town centre. The nearest train station is, located on the north-eastern edge of the suburb. Only 17 floors

Regeneration and upgrades

The area has seen regeneration with the demolition of several low-rise flats replaced with housing and green areas. The tower blocks have seen substantial upgrades over the years. Most obviously, new overcladding was applied to the exteriors between 1997 and 2000 (with the first blocks to be upgraded being Grange and Merryton and the last being Shields and Muirhouse). Other work included the enclosing of external balconies and the installation of CCTV inside and outside the blocks. North Lanarkshire Council has also been upgrading the interior of the flats by replacing dated bathrooms and kitchens.

Currently the council are testing the cladding on the side of each tower to check flammability. The local fire service are currently inspecting the towers' safety.

In 2017, it was reported that the council planned to demolish all the towers in its control over the next 25 years and replace them with modern housing, due to the rising costs of maintenance as the buildings aged, as well as some of the flats being unpopular and underoccupied (although this was not a major issue in Muirhouse).[6] [7] [8] [9]

Tower blocks

External links

Notes and References

  1. Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 64 Glasgow (Motherwell & Airdrie). 9780319228951 . Ordnance Survey. 2010.
  2. https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13003060 Electoral Ward: Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig
  3. https://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst18091.html Flemington
  4. Web site: 'It was an experience' – High Living in Motherwell. University of Glasgow. 27 May 2016. 27 February 2019 .
  5. https://www.visitlanarkshire.com/things-to-see-and-do/walk-or-cycle-dalzell-estate-barons-haugh-nature-reserve/ Dalzell Estate & Baron's Haugh Nature Reserve
  6. https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/article/plans-demolish-every-north-lanarkshire-tower-block-next-20-years Plans to demolish every North Lanarkshire tower block over next 20 years
  7. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-42418148 All council high-rise flats in North Lanarkshire 'could come down'
  8. https://www.motherwelltimes.co.uk/news/politics/towers-among-the-first-to-be-demolished-1-4715882 Towers among the first to be demolished
  9. https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=33627 Building You a Better Future - Regeneration Proposals for your area
  10. Web site: Tower Block UK: Flemington Area: Burnside Street, Phase I. University of Edinburgh. 27 February 2019 .
  11. Web site: Tower Block UK: Flemington Area: Burnside Stret, [sic] Phase III]. University of Edinburgh. 18 December 2020 .
  12. Web site: Buildings in Motherwell: Burnside Street. https://web.archive.org/web/20190227182145/https://www.emporis.com/complex/142533/burnside-street-motherwell-united-kingdom. dead. 27 February 2019. Emporis. 27 February 2019 .
  13. Web site: Tower Block UK: Muirhouse Area: Phase III. University of Edinburgh. 27 February 2019 .
  14. Web site: Buildings in Motherwell: Shields Drive. https://web.archive.org/web/20190227182101/https://www.emporis.com/complex/142530/shields-drive-motherwell-united-kingdom. dead. 27 February 2019. Emporis. 27 February 2019 .