Designed to help manage Glasgow’s housing needs and an important regional town for Lanarkshire, Cumbernauld offers far more than its iconic megastructure. Consciously designed to depart from the ‘neighbourhood’ principle adopted in the previous new towns, Cumbernauld’s designers applied higher densities within fewer urban areas and a single town centre on the hilltop. Cumbernauld Development Corporation was established in February 1956 and was accountable to the Secretary of State for Scotland through the Scottish Office Industry Department. The master plan for Cumbernauld New Town envisaged it as ‘a tight urban place, suitable for a hilltop’ with a ‘single multi-purpose town centre’. Cumbernauld remains an important economic centre and manufacturing base for North Lanarkshire. The North Lanarkshire council’s ambitious plans for housing growth and renewal reflect the town’s strategic location and after 60 years it remains a place which can help deal with Glasgow’s housing needs.