Clyde Gateway project

A regeneration scheme spanning Glasgow and South Lanarkshire has been awarded £62m by the Scottish government

The Clyde Gateway project aims to transform 2,000 acres in the East End of Glasgow and neighbouring parts of South Lanarkshire. It will receive the money over four years.

The announcement came on the same day as members of Glasgow City Council approved plans for the establishment of an Urban Regeneration Company (URC) to take the 15-year project forward.

The URC's delivery focus in the first phase will be in Shawfield, where the intention is to create a nationally significant business area of 1,000,000 (one million) square feet, and Dalmarnock, which is earmarked for a key residential area under the plans.

At Rutherglen recently, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said:

"I'm absolutely delighted to announce this huge investment in the Clyde Gateway project - the biggest regeneration programme in Scotland. The proposals for the area are very ambitious and have the potential to bring about lasting positive benefits, including new housing and infrastructure, jobs, retail and leisure facilities.

"This money will help the Clyde Gateway URC start to deliver the first phase of its business plan, which should serve as the springboard for the whole scale transformation of the area.

"Together with our exciting plans for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which will see millions more in government funding invested to create top-class sports facilities and the athletes' village, we can look forward to genuine regeneration in some of Scotland's most disadvantaged communities.

"This substantial commitment from the Scottish Government is an endorsement of the work done by both local authorities and Scottish Enterprise in getting the project to this stage. I am sure that, having seen the extent of the Government's commitment, each of the partners will fully support the URC as it begins to deliver the plans for the area."

Councillor Steven Purcell also emphasised that for Glasgow City Council the initiative is all about people. He told members of the press that the project was about getting people in this part of the country back into the workforce and enhancing their confidence and ambition.

With the preparation work for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Cllr Purcell outlined that this initiative will have a life-changing impact for the people of the East End of Glasgow. He said that it would be addressing the issues of poverty, low educational attainment and poor health.

Glasgow City Council hope that The Clyde Gateway initiative will provide them with the scale needed to achieve these ambitions.

Councillor Chris Thompson, Chair of Enterprise Resources at South Lanarkshire Council, said:
"The Clyde Gateway is a project we are extremely proud to be involved in and it is something that people in South Lanarkshire, Glasgow and beyond will benefit from for many years to come.

"The huge level of investment over such a long period of time will transform the whole area, bringing with it substantial social and economic benefits for thousands of people."

Conclusions were drawn by Pamela Woodbum , Director of Scottish Enterprise. Ms Woodbum suggested that the funding and incorporation of Clyde Gateway URC will act as a catalyst for significant economic activity. It is assumed that by removing these barriers, market opportunities may arise and major private sector investment could be secured.

"This is the beginning of a long term commitment and Clyde Gateway URC will drive economic development in parallel with, and beyond, the Games in 2014 to ensure that the benefits are maximised for local people, the city region and Scotland as a whole." Ms Woodbum went on to say.

The figure of £62m includes £5m for the remainder of 2007-08, together with £57m spread over 2008-11 (with a split of £14m/£32m/£11m).