Estates Strategy to unlock key investment

Published: Wednesday 19 August 2026

This is an exterior view of Low Parks Museum in Hamilton

An investment of £24 million is to be made into council-owned buildings and infrastructure across South Lanarkshire.

It follows agreement today at the Executive Committee on the council’s 10-year Estates Strategy (2026-36).

Consultation will soon begin to understand the potential impact of proposals on service users, communities and partners and assess the level of support for, or concern about, proposed changes.

The £24 million investment will be spread over three years, with £7.29 million spent in 2026/27, £11.7 million in 2027/2028 and £5 million in 2028/2029.

More than £4 million will be spent improving the condition of buildings in this financial year, more than £1 million on improving community sports facilities and £400,000 spent on more energy efficient heating systems, mostly in schools across the area.

The remaining budget for 2026/27 will be spent on a variety of other works to facilitate the strategy.

Among the buildings to receive investment is Low Parks Museum, picture above, with £350,000 to be spent on improving its condition.

Executive Director of Housing and Technical Resources, Stephen Gibson, said: “This review follows an extremely detailed analysis of all the buildings and assets the council owns or is responsible for across South Lanarkshire.

“Much of the estate is now ageing, configured around traditional single service use, and not consistently utilized to its full capacity.

“This strategy brings together a range of measures designed to improve the quality, accessibility, utilisation and sustainability of the estate.

“The investment includes investment in retained assets, replacement facilities, service consolidation projects, office rationalization and a contribution towards depot modernisation.”

Full details of the council assets to receive investment, and which ones will no longer be supported, will be announced in the View in the coming days.

And there will also be details about the council’s new Front Door Approach, which will create a simpler way for residents and service users to contact the council.

The full report which went to committee can be found on the council website.