This was the first stage of an unbuilt linear megastructure running alongside and over the main road on the ridge at the centre of town. When opened in 1967, it contained offices, a hotel, a shopping mall, a library, recreation and community facilities, and parking. Above was a spine of penthouse flats standing on six high concrete columns, topped with an open walkway resembling castle battlements. Written by Susan Butcher

The Cumbernauld Town Centre has been a subject of ongoing redevelopment discussions and is currently set for demolition. 

In the past, the hotel and the southern terraces have already been demolished because of weather damage to the concrete, and the residential spine, now offices, has been crudely reroofed. Later extensions to the original Centre have also been demolished.

Despite some public support for its architectural value as part of the New Towns program, the structure has faced criticisms over its general condition and functionality. Historic Scotland chose not to grant it protected status, paving the way for North Lanarkshire Council to plan its replacement. In June 2023, the council secured a £9 million grant from the UK Government to facilitate its demolition and initiate the development of a new community hub to revitalize the area. The plan is that the redevelopment project, including the demolition work, will be completed in a multi-stage process that is expected to take 8-10 years (last updated on November 12, 2024).