Plans get the green light
The bid to build a White Cart Water bridge is on track after blueprints were approved for major construction works near Glasgow Airport.
Council chiefs want a new crossing over the river to link the jet terminal with Renfrew as part of the £1billion Glasgow City Region City Deal.
Planners gave the go- ahead for the project and a scheme to alter roads and lay cycle tracks for an investment zone near the jet hub.
Proposals were laid out in a report submitted to the local authority.
It stated: “The Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA) has the potential to become a powerhouse of economic growth for Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City Region; being close to the M8, and to key commercial sites with significant economic growth potential, such as the airport, Westway and Inchinnan Business Parks, Paisley and Renfrew town centres.”
The airport will benefit from the creation of a business zone and the terminal linked to the national rail network. Bosses say this will create: 250 new homes Up to £430million of private sector investment
10,600 permanent jobs as a result of new business 365 jobs during construction Vacant and derelict land brought back into use, and New space for firms. The project will see the realignment of Abbotsinch Road between Arran Avenue and Greenock Road and Inchinnan Road.
The bridge — dubbed the Wright Street Link — will connect the terminal to Westway Business Park, in Renfrew.
Improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, including a crossing over the Black Cart are planned.
Bosses want to create a trade and industrial centre linked by air, sea and land.
The report added: “The Glasgow Airport Investment Area project will deliver infrastructure and environmental improvements, with the objective of facilitating the creation of a world-class business and commercial location around the airport and existing manufacturing centres in the heart of Renfrewshire.
“Its completion will also assist the continued growth and expansion of the airport, a key driver of the local and regional economy and a source of thousands of local jobs, allowing existing business to grow and new business to be created.
“This investment in infrastructure will help to create a more attractive, vibrant and sustainable place to live and work by better connecting communities and businesses, resulting in more employment opportunities for local residents and wider Glasgow city region residents.”
GAIA is being delivered as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal — a partnership between Westminster, Holyrood and eight local authorities, including Renfrewshire.
The region is benefitting from £274m investment for three massive projects across the district. These include building a bridge between Renfrew and Yoker across the River Clyde.
The £91m Renfrew-Yoker bridge will link Meadowside Street to Dock Street for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
It will ease traffic congestion and help speed up journeys on both sides of the river — helping reduce greenhouse gasses by more than 500 tonnes by 2020.
Transport chiefs also want to create a £144m tram-train line connecting Glasgow Airport to the rail network at Paisley Gilmour Street by 2025.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “Councillors on Renfrewshire’s Communities, Housing and Planning board have approved construction of a new high quality boulevard into the investment area through re-alignment of Abbotsinch Road, as well as a new two-lane link bridge over the White Cart linking communities and development sites on the east of the river to the investment area.
“Further consideration is being given by councillors to plans to improve connections between Inchinnan Business Park and the investment area through the construction of a new bridge over the Black Cart and new cycle ways and pedestrian routes.”