Regeneration of the Clyde

Riverside Inverclyde – See the Potential

Stuart Dixon, Interim Chief Executive of Riverside Inverclyde, spoke about the potential for sustainable regeneration of the Clyde riverside in Inverclyde following the recent economic decline of the area.

Please click here for the full presentation or read on for a summary of the talk.

Inverclyde sits not proudly at the top of a number of charts. Unfortunately they tell an immediate story of the poor economic and social decline of the area. Some examples of the statistics are that the area is the highest unemployment area in Scotland, has the lowest number of business starts per 1000 head of population in Scotland and the largest decline in population in an area in Scotland – of over 20,000 in 20 years

But just 5 years ago Inverclyde was bussing people into the area to take up employment in a burgeoning electronics industry. In addition Inverclyde boasted significant employment in the financial and call centre sectors. Globalisation has put paid to much of this -, particularly within the electronics industry that has seen thousands of jobs moving away from Scotland. Over and above this during the good and bad times – the population of Greenock has continued to fall.

The Problem

The population drift away from Inverclyde will continue unless radical measures are taken. Traditionally these measures would have been to build new speculative business accommodation of varying sizes and market for new inward investment into the area – a tactic that worked fairly successfully during the Inverclyde Enterprise Zone period of 1989 to 1999.

However such a policy now would only bring about empty business space that could not be filled.

Sugar warehouse, Greenock © Riverside Inverclyde

WHY?

Inward Investment has dramatically changed for Scotland as a whole – gone are the days of 1000 projects to be won – these projects are now looking at eastern Europe, and further east towards China. In addition geography hampers Inverclyde’s ability to attract new companies to the area. Inverclyde is very much at the tail of the bank and coupled with the difficulties of getting over the Kingston Bridge means that companies seeking new locations will not even consider Inverclyde on their search area.

The Solution

Four miles of riverside from Port Glasgow to Greenock, largely derelict, facing onto the Clyde, with the wonderful views makes Inverclyde a potential hotspot for good quality residential development. The halcyon days when this land was developed for industrial purposes are not coming back to Inverclyde. Therefore, sensible residential development of the riverside with its fantastic views, only 30 minutes from Glasgow is an opportunity that must not be missed. It affords Inverclyde with a realistic possibility of halting the population decline and an opportunity to reclaim 65 hectares or so of vacant and derelict land. The residential developments must however be mixed with appropriate business space, leisure and retail activity and together will mean that the waterfront can be brought back to life and play a vital part in changing the fortunes of Inverclyde.

The change is already happening – 5 sites are under residential development and the houses are selling well – some breaking the £500k barrier – 2500 houses are planned over the 10 year period. It is hoped that Inverclyde can be attractive as a commuter centre for Glasgow and that it can attract people from outside the area, with the “new Community” helping to halt the population slide and help sustain an ailing community.

Retail developments are also appearing in Inverclyde – namely the Gallagher development in Port Glasgow, which will feature the second largest Tesco store in Scotland, other retail and leisure developments including a hotel. All of these are bringing much needed investment and jobs into the area of very high unemployment

The key in all of this is to ensure that the benefits are retained in Inverclyde and are evenly distributed throughout its population.

Training opportunities, new business start up opportunities, better low cost homes for buying or rent, access to the river for all, better transportation and education are but some of the areas where Riverside Inverclyde can add value and make sure the potential realised in Inverclyde is held within the Community and the area consequently is transformed from a “failing one” to one which becomes a “location of choice”.

For further details contact Riverside Inverclyde on 01475 755082 or by going to www.riversideinverclyde.com