Plans have been submitted for a two major infrastructure projects near Glasgow Airport.

The developments form part of the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal, which iims to deliver improved infrastructure, create new jobs, tackle unemployment and drive innovation and growth.

The first project, the £90.7 million Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project, aims o regenerate the Clyde Waterfront as an attractive area supporting residential, industrial, business, retail and leisure opportunities. It involves building the only opening road bridge across the River Clyde, as well as new roads and cycle routes to better link the communities of Renfrew with Yoker and Clydebank.

Proposals for the £39.1m Glasgow Airport Investment Area project have also been submitted. Features include building a new bridge over the White Cart, realignment of Abbotsinch Road, and developing new cycle routes to improve connections between the existing Westway, Inchinnan and Airport business parks.

The scheme will also lead to the creation of a business and commercial location in the heart of Renfrewshire, connected by air, sea and land. If approved, work on both projects is expected to start on site in 2018 with construction completed in 2020.

Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside Project details

• A 184 metre, two-lane opening bridge across the River Clyde, linking Meadowside Street in Renfrew with Dock Street in Yoker and accommodating vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists

• A 750 metre Renfrew North Development Road to link Meadowside Street to the A8 at Argyll Avenue in Renfrew

• New cycle lanes and connections to existing cycleways and active travel paths, connecting from Inchinnan Road, Renfrew through to Yoker Railway Station

• New bridge approach roads providing access to the River Clyde crossing from existing roads


• Active travel routes of pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes incorporated into all new roads and bridges

• New and improved junctions upgrading existing roads and linking to existing and future developments

• Landscaping including woodland planting, trees along the proposed roads and hedges to create wildlife habitats

Anticipated project benefits are;

• Increased business potential on both sides of the River Clyde, gaining access to more customers and suppliers

• Improved journey times between the newly connected communities

• Ease traffic congestion at Renfrew Cross

• Attract £282million in private sector investment

• Create 1015 jobs during the construction period and 629 permanent jobs as a result of new business creation

• Help deliver 1690 new homes

• Bring 83 hectares of land back into use

• Support reduction in greenhouse gas vehicle emissions by more than 500 tonnes in 2020

Glasgow Airport Investment Area Project details

• Realignment and upgrading of Abbotsinch Road – including 1620 metres of new road – to establish a high quality gateway into the new investment area

• A new 70 metre, two-lane bridge over the White Cart river from Wright Street to an approach road off Arran Avenue

• Active travel routes of pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes incorporated into all new roads and bridges

• A 2030 metre off-road cycleway connecting the realigned Abbotsinch Road to Inchinnan Business Park

• A 100 metre cycleway and pedestrian bridge spanning the Black Cart

• New and improved junctions and connections to existing cycleways and paths

• Benches and cycle parking at key points along new routes

• Trees planted on the realigned Abbotsinch Road and hedge planting to enhance biodiversity on Inchinnan cycle way

Anticipated project benefits are;

• Deliver the infrastructure and environmental improvements to facilitate a world class commercial location around Glasgow Airport and existing manufacturing centres in the heart of Renfrewshire

• Support the continued growth and expansion of Glasgow Airport

• Attract £430m in private sector investment

• Create 365 jobs during construction and up to 10,600 jobs as a result of new business creation in the Investment Area

• Create more than 300,000 square foot of new and enhanced development space

• Brings 60 hectares of vacant and derelict land back into use

• Help deliver 250 new homes

• Reduce HGV traffic on Porterfield Road and Paisley Road as a result of Wright Street link

• Support reduction of greenhouse gas vehicle emissions by more than 200 tonnes in 2020

Bob Grant, Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "These projects offer tremendous benefits for local businesses and have the potential to transform how we do business in Renfrewshire. These major infrastructure investments will make it easier for employers to do business; easier for employees to get to and from their places of work and open up the potential for future investment.

"Around 1400 jobs are expected during the construction period and a further 11,000 permanent jobs could be created through existing business expansion and new businesses being attracted to the area as a result of the City Deal infrastructure investment.

"Improved connections will also benefit the public and local employers, with 59,000 jobs becoming more accessible to Renfrewshire residents. I am very excited at the potential of the Glasgow Airport Investment Area to bring highly skilled jobs to the area."

(LM/MH)