East Renfrewshire economy set to benefit from £250m City Region funding boost

A £250 million funding boost for the Glasgow City Region is set to benefit East Renfrewshire’s economy.
East Renfrewshire is set to benefit from City Region investment to support the recovery of the economy following the coronavirus pandemic.East Renfrewshire is set to benefit from City Region investment to support the recovery of the economy following the coronavirus pandemic.
East Renfrewshire is set to benefit from City Region investment to support the recovery of the economy following the coronavirus pandemic.

Glasgow City Region announced a £250 million funding boost for vital infrastructure work which will help kick start the Region’s post Covid-19 economic recovery and play a key part in supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the region.

This will enable East Renfrewshire Council to invest in the area’s infrastructure, support businesses and help to protect and create jobs.

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The funding forms part of the £1.13 billion UK and Scottish Government funded City Deal, one of the largest and the most advanced in the UK.

City Region funding has been invested in commercial units at Crossmill Business Park in Barrhead.City Region funding has been invested in commercial units at Crossmill Business Park in Barrhead.
City Region funding has been invested in commercial units at Crossmill Business Park in Barrhead.

Susan Aitken, Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet and Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “Communities have really started to see the delivery of the City Deal’s promise and its clear transformational effect and the next five years have always been about driving forward that investment and projects on the ground.

“As we plan for our re-emergence from the greatest crisis in generations, it’s crucial that we accelerate activity on the things we already know we need to build a city region economy, one which delivers for all people and a sustainable future.

“The City Deal has a critical role on that road to recovery and renewal. In the months and years ahead, a monumental effort at all levels of government will be required to resuscitate our post-pandemic economy and I am committed to working with UK and Scottish ministers to maximise the value and impact of the Glasgow City Region Deal.”

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Councillor Tony Buchanan, Leader of East Renfrewshire Council and holder of the Infrastructure portfolio for Glasgow City Region, added:

The Greenlaw Works, a business centre in Newton Mearns, has been supported by City Region funding.The Greenlaw Works, a business centre in Newton Mearns, has been supported by City Region funding.
The Greenlaw Works, a business centre in Newton Mearns, has been supported by City Region funding.

“This confirmation of funding is welcome news for supporting East Renfrewshire’s economy post Covid-19 enabling us to improve transport links, support business development, increase leisure opportunities and create jobs.

“City Deal investment has already enabled business opportunities and job creation through the construction of The Greenlaw Works, a new business centre at Greenlaw in Newton Mearns and commercial units at Crossmill Business Park in Barrhead.

“Ambitious future plans are under way to improve the road network between Barrhead and Newton Mearns, enable residential development, create a new train station in Barrhead and enhance tourism at Dams to Darnley Country Park.”

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At the beginning of 2020, anticipated infrastructure spend in the Glasgow City Region in the next five years was set to be £700 million – more than three times spend to date – with construction expected to be completed for most projects.

However, in line with government advice, contractors have currently suspended construction on all projects and work will now take place to revisit the infrastructure build programme in light of delays.

Despite this, the City Deal remains very much underway, with extensive ‘back office’ work progressing on the procurement of suppliers and services and on activities such as project design which can still be carried out, some by local consultancy businesses.

And the £250 million funding boost is set to support a whole programme of work in the next five years, helping to create and support thousands of much needed jobs for the local economy.

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Work to improve transport and connectivity, a key focus of the £1 billion programme, will move forward, including a feasibility study on proposals for a Glasgow metro system.

Sustainable and inclusive travel and transport projects feature widely and include road improvements, bridges and active travel initiatives – such as cycle and pedestrian schemes, park and rides, enhanced public realm to improve greenspace, accessibility and encourage walking and cycling.

In fact, by 2035, the City Deal is set to have delivered 53km of cycle routes and 30km of new pedestrian routes.

Extensive remediation works will also continue to unlock land in key locations for private development, with new roads, thousands of new homes built and new commercial, industrial and residential floor space realised through projected follow-on investment.

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