Funding go-ahead for Glasgow waterfront campus

Plans for the campus were unveiled by the university last month, with the project expected to cost around £80 million to complete.

 

Glasgow City Council announced on Thursday it has signed off on up to £1 million of Glasgow City Region Deal funding to go towards the 

project.

 

City region deals are agreed between the UK Government, Scottish Government and local authorities in order to support sustainable 

economic growth and jobs through long-term investment in local projects.

 

The Glasgow City Region Deal is one of the largest in the UK, with the UK and Scottish governments each contributing around £500 million.

 

Building a new university campus is part of a strategy to invest in areas around the Clyde and to increase innovation.

 

It is expected that by the end of the Clyde waterfront investment plans, almost 4,000 new jobs will have been created, along with 184,000 

square metres of new commercial floor space.

 

Vacant and derelict land in Govan has been earmarked as the location for the new campus.

 

The funding approved by the council is expected to support design, site investigations and technical studies.

 

The first stage of the campus will feature an enhanced James Watt Nanofabrication Centre and a Precision Medicine Living Laboratory, and a 

technology accelerator will be established with a flexible space where companies can co-locate, carry out collaborative research and develop 

innovative products.

 

A bid of £25 million has also been made by the university to the UK Government for Strength In Places funding.

 

It has also identified in-principle funding support of £10 million from the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

 

Council leader Susan Aitken said: "The Clyde Waterfront Innovation Quarter will bring thousands of jobs to communities on the banks of the 

river, and the innovation campus will help to unlock the enormous potential of these sites in Govan.

 

"The city deal funding the council has now approved will help deliver a facility that will further enhance Glasgow's reputation as a leading city in technology and innovation, attract investment and deliver inclusive economic growth."

 

Other projects funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal within the Clyde Waterfront Innovation Quarter include the Govan to Partick 

Bridge, a new public realm in central Govan, and the redevelopment of both Govan Old Church and Water Row.