£250m war chest to help businesses fight back from Covid crisis
Renfrewshire is set to benefit from a £250million funding boost to help support businesses and jobs following the Covid-19 crisis.
The vital investments in businesses across the local authority are part of the £1.13billion UK and Scottish Government funded City Deal, one of the largest and the most advanced in the UK.
Renfrewshire Council - and seven other councils in the Glasgow Region - are set to see cash ploughed into the area in a bid to help the economy recover following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over the next five years, it is hoped the influx of funding will help support local businesses and create thousands of jobs.
In Renfrewshire, three major infrastructure projects are underway as part of the City Deal, including the Glasgow Airport Investment Area project, Clyde Waterfront Renfrew Riverside project and the Airport Access Project.
The Glasgow Airport Investment Area project is building utilities and connections such as bridges, roads, cycle ways and pedestrian paths into a new site focused on manufacturing.
This will form the centre of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland.
The Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project aims to regenerate the Clyde Waterfront as an attractive r iverside and urban area that supports existing - and promotes new - residential, industrial, commercial, business, retail and leisure opportunities.
The proposals include the construction of a new opening bridge across the River Clyde, which will accommodate vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, and the construction of the Renfrew North Development Road to better link communities and businesses on both sides of the river.
The Glasgow Airport Access Project is the Glasgow City Region City Deal’s flagship project and emphasises the importance of Renfrewshire’s role in the future economic success of the region.
The project will provide a fixed link between Glasgow Central Station and Glasgow Airport via Paisley Gilmour Street station.
This will make it easier for passengers to get to the airport and help local employees to get to work there while also improving access for other businesses in the area.
The funding announcement has been welcomed by Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson, left.
He said: “I am working closely with business leaders at this tough time to develop a roadmap for our local economic recovery.
“This continued funding through the Glasgow City Region City Deal is enabling major infrastructure projects in Renfrewshire which will play an important role in helping to support existing businesses and attract new jobs and opportunities over the coming years.”