The scale, pace and diversity of the River Clyde is regeneration has revitalised much of Glasgow and the adjoining Renfrew and Clydebank economies, creating numerous opportunities for businesses and the public to invest, locate and live.

Clyde Waterfront is a strategic partnership comprising the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and Glasgow City, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire councils. It works closely with investors, developers and businesses to facilitate and promote the £5-6bn of public and private sector investment anticipated over 20-25 years that will transform 20km of the Clyde from Glasgow city centre via Renfrew to Dumbarton, with the potential to deliver by 2027/8: 50,000 new jobs; 24,000 new homes; 900,000sq m new commercial space.

To date £3.5bn has already been spent or committed by the public and private sectors across 250 plus regeneration projects within the Clyde Waterfront area, making many brownfield and vacant sites productive and habitable again, thereby creating 18,000 new jobs, 8,500 new homes and 0.3sq m of new commercial space.

The economy, landscape and communities of Clyde Waterfrontís 30sq km are now far more diverse than before when shipbuilding and heavy engineering were the dominant industries in the area, with several centres of excellence, for example:-
Financial services: Glasgowís multi award winning International Financial Services District has  attracted more than £1bn of investment to date, with employers like Aon, AXA, Barclays, beCogent, BNP Paribas, esure, First Data, HSBC, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, National Australia Group, Norwich Union, RBS and Santander, creating 16,000 new jobs since 2001. New tenants, the Tradeston ìSquigglyî bridge and exciting retail and hospitality plans for the Broomielaw, all add fresh impetus.

Creative Industries: The digital sector is thriving in Glasgow at Pacific Quay with the relocation of STV and BBC Scotland into purpose built broadcasting centres and the development of Medius, The Hub and Film City, providing space for Creative SMEs linked to the city centre by the Clyde Arc Squinty bridge. Opposite a new 12,500 seat SECC National Arena which will open in 2013, reinforcing the area as a world class entertainment and conference venue.

Shipbuilding: BAE Systems Surface Fleet two yards in Govan and Scotstoun have recruited over 100 apprentices recently to join the 3,500 strong workforce to build six £650m Type 45 Destroyers and two new 65,000 ton aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy over the next six to eight years.

Medical science: Boosted by the £842m redevelopment of the NHS Southern General Campus managed by Brookfield Europe, expanding the maternity hospital and building new acute and childrenís hospitals to provide 1,700 beds and treat 725,000 patients a year.

Leisure and tourism: Forthcoming attractions such as the iconic £74m Riverside Museum of Transport designed by Zaha Hadid will help grow tourism and leisure further when it opens Spring 2011, whilst the Glasgow Science Centre, Xscape, the Titan Crane and Loch Lomond Seaplanes have all become very popular since opening.

Retail: Clyde Waterfront boasts some excellent retail destinations, with more than one-hundred stores and cafes at Braehead attracting 20 million customers a year, Glasgowís Buchanan Street often voted as the UK’s best shopping street and the St Enoch Centre recently completed a £100m refurbishment, including the first Hamleys toy store outside London.

Housing: New homes and environments are integral to the plans, with prime examples being the award winning £1.2bn Glasgow Harbour development which is set to expand further with new shops, restaurants and hotels planned, plus six developers at Ferry Village near Braehead are creating 2,000 homes beside the new Clyde View public park.

Education: Our innovative on line resource offers teachers 200 free lesson plans linking 12 Clyde themes with eight subjects as part of the Curriculum for Excellence and we continue to sponsor Clyde Cruises Classroom on the Clyde school trips between SECC and Clydebank, to help young people become even more enterprising and successful.

Tourism: Thousands of locals and tourists visit the Clyde now to experience its regeneration and heritage prompted by our advertising and Heritage Guide booklet. New in 2010, Clyde Waterfront and Glasgow City Council sponsored and promoted Clyde Cruises River Link waterbus/sightseeing trips between the Broomielaw, PQ, Braehead and Clydebank, to compliment Seaforce’s powerboat rides and The Waverley Paddle Steamer.

Commenting on these achievements, Derek McCrindle, director of Clyde Waterfront Strategic Partnership said: “Over the last decade £2bn of private and public sector investment has transformed the landscape and economy of the Clyde, so that it has become once again a really appealing waterfront location for companies to do business in and for the general public to spend leisure time or live besides.” He added: “Now we must use this success to further promote private sector commercial and residential opportunities in the area, so that the Clyde continues to appeal to international companies and visitors as well as ensures local communities prosper.”

The diversity, scale and pace of its economy has given Clyde Waterfront a real momentum, with many previously derelict brownfield sites revitalised. However, with a 15-20 year horizon, there are still many commercial, retail and residential opportunities for developers, investors and companies in the area. Examples being more Grade A office space in the IFSD/city centre, more hotels and hospitality venues besides the Clyde, particularly at the Broomielaw, Pacific Quay and Glasgow Harbour and more residential opportunities right along the 20km of waterfront from the Merchant City, SECC, Renfrew, Clydebank, Erskine to Dumbarton.

Clyde Waterfrontís regeneration is making the most of its skilled workforce, excellent communications and new infrastructure to develop a vibrant and thriving international waterfront location that appeals to investors, businesses and the public alike.

For more information call +44 (0) 141 229 5420 or write to Clyde Waterfront Strategic Partnership, 4th Floor Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6HQ

Official Website: www.clydewaterfront.com
International Financial Services District: www.ifsdglasgow.co.uk
Pacific Quay: www.pacificquaydmq.com
Online Education Resource: www.clydewaterfronteducation.com
Clyde Heritage Guide: www.clydewaterfrontheritage.com