We’re celebrating 75 years of East Kilbride, with all of you! Our lovely tenants!
On May 6th 1947, East Kilbride was born opening its arms to Scotland to welcome in a variety of new people. It was originally built as a New Town to help ease the over crowding in Glasgow and give people a new place to move to. After 75 years, EK is still as exciting and lively as it was all those years ago.
East Kilbride was the first of five new towns in Scotland to be designated, followed by Glenrothes (1948), Cumbernauld (1956), Livingston (1962) and Irvine (1964). Originally there were 2400 people living in East Kilbride in 1947, but today there are 75,310, and that number is made up by so many of our wonderful tenants living here in East Kilbride.
The town was in mainly created to provide living space to prevent cramped conditions in parts of Glasgow. East Kilbride was the most successful of the first five towns to emerge from the programme, in terms of both population and economic growth.
South Lanarkshire Council marked the anniversary by consulting with the communities of East Kilbride on how the landmark might be best celebrated. It was decided that offering funds to help local groups celebrate the 75th anniversary of East Kilbride as a new town was the best option.
The photo is from Friday May 1, 1959, which shows then Prime Minister Harold MacMillan opening East Kilbride Shopping Centre.