The Glasgow City Region City Deal programme is accelerating and is set to spend more than £740 million on infrastructure in the next five years.

The City Deal, which was the first in Scotland, and which is forecast to see a total spend of £1.13 billion, marked its five year point in 2019. In that time since the Deal was agreed with the UK and Scottish Governments in August 2014, 27 projects were selected and most are underway.

Sixteen projects have already been completed by the eight local councils in the Deal and more than £180 million has been spent on infrastructure to date. Local businesses have benefitted from what was estimated as a £50 million boost to the end of September – that being the total value of City Deal contracts won by companies across the region.

But the £740 million over the next five years will represent more than four times the spend to date with the expected completion of construction of the majority of projects under the Deal in the next five years.

Susan Aitken, chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet and leader of Glasgow City Council said: “The Glasgow City Region Deal continues to make significant progress and is building on its status as one of the most advanced in the UK. We are now delivering projects at pace and for place and our people.

“Communities are beginning to see the delivery of the Deal’s promise and that it is having a clear transformational effect.”

She said that more than 20 “major and transformative” infrastructure projects were either underway or due to start with the projects having worked with almost 20,000 unemployed people and supported 4,500 people into jobs.

She said that transport and connectivity is improving, the Deal was leveraging billions of pounds in private sector investment and there was the record breaking Barclays investment on the banks of the Clyde underpinned by City Deal investment.

She added: “We look forward to the next five years where we can really build on the potential of the City Deal and ensure we have the levers to transform the Glasgow City Region into the real Powerhouse of the North.”

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack MP said: “The Glasgow City Region Deal has made great progress since 2014 with projects which are helping to create thousands of jobs, homes and opportunities that will improve people’s lives. I look forward to seeing further developments as the fruits of our £523 million Glasgow City Region City Deal investment benefit the region.

“The UK Government has committed more than £1.4 billion in city and growth deals across Scotland – with more to come. We are working to bring sustainable growth and prosperity to every part of the country, and we will continue to work with Scottish Government and local partners to ensure this happens.”

Benefits from the City Deal Programme expected to be realised in the next five years include more than 7,700 new homes built; over 400 hectares of land reclaimed, redeveloped or assembled and more than 80 hectares of vacant land brought back into use.

More than 400,000 square metres of commercial, industrial, residential and other floor space outcomes will also have been realised through the current projected amount of follow-on investment.

This year will see further projects being progressed. These include:

  • At Sighthill in Glasgow, City Deal investment is creating a new neighbourhood, re-connecting an area equivalent in size to 60 football pitches to the nearby city centre and opening up the north of the city for growth.
  • A new city park is also set to open at Sighthill later in the year. Future developments include a bridge over the M8 motorway.
  • At Ocean Terminal in Greenock, completion of a new berthing facility is expected early this year, with the floating of a new Pontoon. The plans also include a new visitor centre which is still to be delivered.

Together these are set to boost cruise ship passengers to more than 150,000 passing through Greenock Ocean Terminal each year, delivering £26 million in annual visitor spend to the economy.

Greenlaw Business Centre will also formally open in East Renfrewshire, providing modern office accommodation and support for local small businesses.

The first Smart Canal in Europe will complete and open soon. This innovative project combines new technology with the 250 year old Forth and Clyde Canal to mitigate flood risk and unlock 110 hectares in north Glasgow for investment, regeneration and 3,000 new homes.

Work is progressing apace in Renfrewshire to develop the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, where a 52-hectare site next to Glasgow Airport is being transformed into Scotland’s centre for manufacturing research and innovation.

Home to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, the fully developed district is estimated to create thousands of jobs and boost Scotland's manufacturing sector by £535 million in GVA every year.

More than 365 jobs are being supported through the construction of the £39.1 million enabling infrastructure, funded through the City Deal, which started in 2019 and is scheduled for completion by early 2021.

And at nearby Renfrew, advance works are taking place to prepare for construction of the first opening road bridge over the River Clyde, transforming the waterfront and improving access to work, education, hospitals and leisure.

The Clyde Waterfront Renfrew Riverside project, scheduled for completion by 2023, is anticipated to inject an additional £859 million into the City Region economy over the next 25 years, attracting new developments along the river.

The partnership of eight Regional councils, representing a population of more than 1.83 million, committed to work together on a combined Regional Economic Strategy with a series of ambitious plans to help to grow the economy and support jobs and skills. This will be refreshed in 2020.