Blueprint for ambitious business hub revealed
Thousands of jobs promised
13.07.2018 A massive business park at Glasgow Airport is a step closer after blueprints were unveiled.
Renfrewshire Council wants to open the hub as part of the £1 billion City Deal in Renfrew.
Bosses say it will create thousands of jobs and bring huge investment to the area.
Planners revealed their vision for the site in designs and a report lodged with the local authority.
It stated: “The creation of the business park is part of a wider vision for the area, which is to create a new Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) – the only one of its kind in Scotland.
“The aspiration is for AMIDS to be an internationally recognised centre for innovation, research and advanced manufacturing.
“It wi l l s u p p o rt and reinv i g o rate Scotland’s manufacturing capabilities across all manufacturing sectors while potentially creating thousands of new jobs.
“Located adjacent to established manufacturing businesses, such as Rolls Royce, Thermo Fisher and the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre, at Inchinnan, the proposed development will “have a focus on advanced manufacturing and research and development and be at the core of emerging plans for AMIDS.
“The proposed development site is the chosen location for the £ 65 million National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS).
“This will be an industryled international centre of manufacturing expertise.
“Research, industry and the public sector will work together to transform skills, productivity and innovation to attract investment and make Scotland a global leader in advanced manufacturing.”
Council chiefs have unveiled plans to realign Abbotsinch Road to make way for the site at Netherton Farm.
It will be built on unused farmland and an occupied farmhouse – which will be retained until the later phases of development of the new business park.
Leaders say it will link industry demand and expertise with academic capability and skills to create an “economic powerhouse”.
The development has already secured over £ 120 million in investment.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the centre had been chosen for NMIS last year.
I t wi l l tie-up with manufacturers, engineers and students from across the country.
Last month, it was revealed the £ 56 million Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) will also open at the site.
It will offer pharmaceutical companies a place to develop processing techniques and create highly-skilled jobs.
It is envisaged the arrival of these major projects will attract further cash.
Smaller blocks are proposed, including shops and small businesses, such as cafés, restaurants and shops.
The report added: “Also opening within the emerging AMIDS district is the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre (LMC).
“It will be Scotland’s only facility for research and development of lightweight components, increasingly being used in the aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, and renewable energy industries.
“The expectation is that there will be further clustering of advanced manufacturing and research-type businesses.”
MMIC will be “nationally important” to the economy and aims to attract over £80 million in research and development investment by 2028.
The development will be designed to promote walking and cycling to work.
Roads will be realigned, while a new bridge will be built across the White Cart Water to link to the centre.
Improved bike tracks and pathways will also be laid.
The LMC is due to open in the adjacent Westway Business Parkthis year. It is expected that a detailed planning application for NMIS will be submitted towards the end of 2018.
Construction is due to start later this year.