June 2026 Director’s Blog
Latest Economic Briefing
Our latest Intelligence Hub economic briefing covers three key areas providing insight at a national, regional and local level:
Latest Economic Statistics
The latest GDP data shows that the UK has experienced the fastest growth amongst G7 nations. This coincides with academic research which suggests productivity growth in the UK may be higher than currently estimated. However, there are warnings around inflation rising due to global geo-political pressures.
Annual Population Survey (APS)
Some positive news for the Region can be seen in the latest APS as GCR now ranks joint-top for High-level Qualifications and no longer ranks as having the highest rate of economically inactive individuals due to long-term health conditions.
Urban Development: Centripetal Cities
Finally, there is a note of caution in a recent academic publication on models of urban development, such as those seen in Greater Manchester. The paper argues that inefficient urban development can drive gentrification and displacement, with limited spillover benefits to the wider Region.
You can read the full online briefing on the GCR website.
It is worth noting that we will be issuing a bespoke briefing soon on the impact of AI which I am sure will be of interest. Make sure you sign up to receive of all our e-updates.
City Deal: Enabling Commercial Infrastructure
Last month, the First Minister visited Xworks in Dalmarnock to mark the start of a construction project that has been supported by £6.56 million of City Deal funding as part of the Enabling Commercial Space Programme. The programme identified the need for high-quality commercial space in the Region to meet existing and future demand.
The new commercial space project will provide 40,000 square feet of flexible hybrid office, industrial, high-value manufacturing, and R&D space. It is expected to be of great interest to the engineering development, medical, renewable energy, bioscience and digital sectors as it will allow occupiers to opportunity to adapt spaces to meet specific requirements.
The funding has been allocated from Glasgow City Council to Clyde Gateway which will be delivering the RED Dalmarnock Xworks project, located on a brownfield site at Bartholomew Street/Playfair Street in Dalmarnock.
The project is due for completion in early 2027.
Xworks will form a key component of a £500 million Clyde Gateway regeneration initiative, transforming more than 100 hectares across Glasgow’s East End and South Lanarkshire into one of Scotland’s most important hubs for advanced manufacturing, life sciences, clean energy and deep‑tech activity. The whole initiative will deliver up to one million square feet of flexible commercial and lab‑enabled workspace, innovation labs, hotels and residential development – all connected to low‑carbon heat networks and green infrastructure along the River Clyde corridor.
City Deal: Short Films on George Square and Balgray Station
We recently commissioned two new short films on the City Deal which we shared on the Glasgow City Region YouTube channel.
The first is a sneak preview of work on the regeneration of George Square. Since being posted a month ago, it has generated over 4,000 views on our YouTube channel.
The project is part of the wider City Deal Avenues programme and the complementary Avenues Plus programme, which together form the biggest transformation of the city centre since the pedestrianisation of Buchanan Street in the 1970s.
The second short film is a behind-the-scenes look at the new railway station in Barrhead, Balgray Station, which will provide direct access to Dams to Darnley Country Park and Balgray Reservoir as well as rail connections for the local Barrhead community and several new housing developments.
The Region’s YouTube channel has generated over 310,000 video views to date and has more than 400 subscribers.
Clyde Mission Heat Decarbonisation Fund
The first Clyde Mission Heat Decarbonisation Fund (HDF) grant award has been approved, with £1.8 million funding for North Lanarkshire Council’s Watersport Centre in Strathclyde Park.
The project will install a 400-kW closed-loop Water Source Heat Pump system, using Strathclyde Loch as the heat source, together with a supporting 60 KWP solar panels.
This will fully replace the existing end-of-life gas boilers and decarbonise heating and domestic hot water at the centre.
A second phase of the HDF is already open for applications and will conclude at the end of July.