The scale and pace of the River Clyde’s regeneration has continued despite the recession, bucking most economic trends. Since 2003, the public and private sectors have invested £1.5bn with a further £2bn underway across hundreds of commercial, retail, leisure, housing and public amenity projects, creating many new opportunities to invest, locate and live.
Clyde Waterfront Strategic Partnership (clydewaterfront.com/ceo) facilitates and promotes the Clyde’s economic, social and environmental renaissance, where over 17,000 new jobs, 2.8msq ft of new commercial space and 6,000 new homes have already being created.
Due to Clyde Waterfront’s scale (30sq km), it is sub-divided into six smaller areas from Glasgow, via Renfrew to Dumbarton, which contain several centres of excellence.
Finance – Scotland’s financial services are prospering in Glasgow’s multi award winning International Financial Services District (www.ifsdglasgow.co.uk) which has attracted over £1bn investment and employers like JP Morgan, Barclays Wealth, Morgan Stanley, Resolution, National Australia Group, Axa, Aviva, Direct Line, esure, First Data and beCogent, creating 16,000 new jobs since 2001. Fresh impetus has been added by new tenants, the opening of the Tradeston “Squiggly” footbridge and Capella Group’s £100m plans for Atlantic Square.
Innovation – The digital media sector is thriving in Glasgow at Pacific Quay (pacificquaydmq.com) with the opening of the Clyde Arc “Squinty” bridge and the relocations of broadcasters STV and BBC Scotland, helping to attract over 50 digital media SMEs into new premises at Medius, The Hub and Film City Glasgow. Besides the SECC, a purpose built 12,500 capacity £125m national arena will open in 2012, bolstering the area’s reputation as an excellent entertainment and conferencing destination. The area is also home to the Glasgow River Festival.
Shipbuilding continues on the Clyde at BAE’s yards in Govan and Scotstoun who have recruited 100 apprentices to join the 3,500 strong workforce building six £650m Type 45 Destroyers and two new 65,000 ton aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy.
Medical science will be enhanced by the £842m NHS re-development of the Southern General Hospital, expanding its maternity hospital and building two new hospitals, to create one of Europe’s best medical campuses by 2015.
Leisure – The new £74m Riverside Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, hopes to attract 750,000 annual visitors when it opens in 2011. The Glasgow Science Centre, Xscape/Sno!Zone, Titan Crane and Loch Lomond Seaplanes have all become very popular since opening and they will be complimented by planned new hotels such as the five star deluxe Jumeirah Glasgow Hotel.
Clyde Waterfront is great for shopping. Braehead’s 100 stores and restaurants, celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2009. Glasgow’s stylish and bustling Buchanan Street has been voted the best shopping street in Britain and nearby the St Enoch’s Centre’s £100m refurbishment, offering the first Hamley’s outside London, reopened recently.
Residential – Providing new homes and attractive environments are integral to Clyde Waterfront’s plans. Glasgow Harbour’s £1.2bn riverside apartments will expand further with new shops, restaurants and hotels being planned, epitomising waterfront living. At Renfrew, six developers are building a whole new community of 2,000 two to five bedroom homes.
Heritage – An innovative educational website (clydewaterfronteducation.com) has been developed offering teachers 200 free lesson plans linking 12 Clyde themes with the Scottish curriculum, as well as Clyde Marine Services “Classroom on the Clyde” school trips between SECC and Clydebank, to highlight new career opportunities along the river for young people.
A “Visit the Clyde” initiative was launched in 2009 comprising 50,000 heritage guides and website, (clydewaterfrontheritage.com) an advertising campaign on public transport and the promotion of Clyde river trips via Seaforce’s powerboats, Clyde Marine’s cruises and The Waverley Paddle Steamer.
The regeneration of Clyde Waterfront is making the most of its skilled workforce, excellent communications and new infrastructure to develop an international waterfront location that appeals to investors, businesses and the public alike.
Please call +44 (0) 141 229 5423 or write to Clyde Waterfront Strategic Partnership, 4th Floor Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6HQ or visit: www.clydewaterfront.com/ceo