Significant progress for the City Deal

The City Deal is changing the region’s social and physical landscape through 27 key projects, including: 

• The first opening road bridge across the Clyde
• The street in the sky bridge over the M8, connecting Sighthill to the near-by city centre – one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK
• Europe’s first ever Smart Canal in Glasgow – a pioneering digital surface water management scheme which is mitigating flood risk and unlocking land for new housing development
• A landmark visitor centre at Greenock’s Ocean Terminal which will help to grow tourism and boost the local economy

Our latest  (April 2017 – March 2018) provides an overview of progress and achievements in the period, as well as details of governance structures, milestones and financial performance. A number of case studies are also included. 

Reflecting on performance to date, Susan Aitken, Glasgow City Region Cabinet Chair and Leader Glasgow City Council said:

“The Glasgow City Region Deal is one of the most advanced in the UK and we are now delivering projects at pace, providing a real boost to Glasgow City Region. Communities across the city and the region are now seeing this investment on the ground and there is a real visibility around City Deal projects.

Thousands of jobs are being created through construction works underway and our employment schemes. Local businesses are benefiting from contract opportunities and from our new business support schemes.

Infrastructure investment for new roads, bridges, remediation and public realm works is helping to unlock vacant sites in key locations for housing, retail and commercial development.

We talk about the City Deal levering in an estimated £3.3 billion of private sector investment over 20 years. Already we are seeing this happen, with recent high profile inward investments such as Barclays. The Barclays deal is the most significant inward investment ever made in Glasgow and is a beacon for what the public and private sector can achieve in close collaboration. It is the first of many inward investments in which the City Deal will be a critical factor.

And we have ensured our projects have a focus on inclusive economic growth. The City Region Cabinet has become ever clearer in its understanding of what that looks like in practice. Now we must make it our top priority.”

Further important investment in the region stimulated by the City Deal includes two national innovation centres in medicine and advanced manufacturing in Renfrewshire and new masterplan proposals for Ravenscraig in North Lanarkshire.

The projects which have completed are Medicity, Tontine, Cathkin Relief Road, Imaging Centre of Excellence, Youth Gateway and In Work Progression (December 2018). The completed sub-projects are Crossmill Business Park, Newton Farm Primary School, Sighthill Remediation Contract 1, Newton Park and Ride and Glenboig Link Road.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said:

“It’s satisfying to see that the first and largest City Deal in Scotland – which the UK Government is supporting with £500m investment – is delivering real benefits for people who live and work in the region.

“We look forward to the continued development and completion of more projects – and the economic growth and regeneration benefits they will bring.

“In all the UK Government has committed more than £1.1 billion to City Region Deals right across Scotland and further investment will follow as we progress our negotiations for Growth Deals in the Borderlands, Ayrshire and Moray.”

Michael Matheson, Infrastructure Secretary said:

“It is encouraging to see the progress that has already been made in the Glasgow City Region, not yet a quarter of the way through the 20 year lifespan of the City Region Deal. With completed projects like the Imaging Centre of Excellence and the first stages of the remediation of Sighthill, the deal is already delivering on innovation, infrastructure and skills.

“This is an exciting time for the city region and the Scottish Government remains fully committed to working closely with regional partners over the upcoming years to get the most out of the opportunities created through the deal.”