As the long term transformation of the River Clyde proceeds, there is still a reminder of its great history as the world’s shipbuilding centre with three Type 45 destroyers being fitted out and a section of the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier sitting on a barge.
In contrast, the new Clyde riverside is being built around the shipyard with the Riverside Museum, BBC centre, hotels, shops, houses and offices. Eleanor McAllister of Clydebank Re-built said: “It is important to have a long term plan for the Clyde corridor of at least 20-25 years. There are problems to overcome such as contamination from the shipbuilding but we are stitching the Clyde into the city centre.”
Although cuts in government spending are on the cards, McAllister wants “everybody to hold their nerve and continue with regeneration.” That particularly applies to Clydebank which has the “benefit of a good board and local partners,” she added. Mark Barton of Clyde Waterfront points out that the regeneration of the Clyde is one “of the largest in the UK with 68 projects under construction, including the massive NHS Southern General Campus costing £842 million as well as two other hospitals.”
The breadth of the plans is considerable and includes the Scottish Hydro Arena concert venue which will open in 2013. The expectation is that this will have a similar impact to the O2 in London. David Rooney of Glasgow Regeneration Agency said: “We have introduced residential accommodation to the banks of the Clyde and built two new bridges which have opened up the southern side of the city. This means the area has been linked to the International Financial Services District, opening up areas for further development and providing access to jobs.”
Rob Pryce, also of Glasgow Regeneration Agency, added that “it is important to bring the local population and businesses into the process of regeneration so that they stay in the area and grow their activities.” This is also helping the expansion of tourism “where the Glasgow brand has changed in the past few years to that of a business centre.”
It is worth remembering that Glasgow has a number of world class museums and art galleries, including the new Riverside Museum on the Clyde designed by Zaha Hadid. This houses Glasgow’s transport collection.
Selling regeneration The extensive waterfront regeneration in Glasgow and other Scottish cities is the main reason why it will host the 8th WaterfrontExpo in November.“This shows our commitment to regeneration in the cities,” said Derek McCrindle of Scottish Enterprise,” and we have a suitable location for it at the Crown Plaza Hotel, SECC Glasgow.” It will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of November. The event will break new ground by concentrating on the actual experience and progress of seven major cities in turning their waterfront regeneration plans into reality - and the new investment opportunities this has created. McCrindle said: “The conference will address the shortcomings of how master plans and economic aspirations have turned out in practice by offering a combination of speakers and guided tours of the Glasgow and Edinburgh waterfronts as well as city workshops.”
New business park Regeneration, together with the extension of the M74, has brought immediate rewards with two UK development companies planning to invest £14 million in the Clyde Gateway East Business Park. Scot Sheridan will develop industrial space of 5,340 sq.metres while MEPC, in its first major scheme in Scotland outside Hillington, will build 13,006 sq.metres. The site has been undeveloped for 40 years and the two schemes will support 700 jobs. Clyde Gateway East is a new business park of 12 hectares with a capacity for industrial space of 37,160 sq.metres.
MEPC’s Rick de Blaby commented: “It is an important strategic acquisition for us, where we hope to replicate and deliver a modern Hillington Park. The infrastructure that Clyde Gateway has committed to this area of Glasgow is enormous and we are happy to invest alongside that.” Another new scheme in the Clyde Gateway area is the £38 million headquarters for the Strathclyde Police, less than one mile from the site of the Commonwealth Games.
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