Proposals to transform 600 hectares of derelict land along the River Clyde and create a “green freeport” supporting 30,000 new jobs have been unveiled.
Glasgow City Region is one of four regions competing in a bid, submitted to the UK and Scottish Governments, that want to create the freeport - a “large zoned area” which includes a rail, sea or airport without normal tax and customs rules.
If successful it is said the port would generate tens of thousands of jobs in areas of high deprivation while delivering a “bold” decarbonisation plan, accelerating regional, national and UK net zero targets, along with £2.5 billion investment locally.
READ MORE: Glasgow City Region 'green' freeport 'would bring enormous economic boost'
Glasgow City Region councils have partnered with Glasgow Airport, Peel Ports’ Clydeport and Mossend International Railfreight Park in North Lanarkshire to try and make the bid successful.
Kevin Rush, Director of Regional Economic Growth for Glasgow City Region, said: “Our bid is multimodal, covering air, sea and rail, and will further unlock global trade, doubling capacity to take products from across Scotland to the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond.
“Vitally it will tackle the region’s greatest economic challenges - increasing productivity and generating more inclusive growth. This will be achieved through fast-tracking our world-class innovation economy and creating tens of thousands of jobs in communities across the region with high levels of deprivation. Almost 40 per cent of Scotland’s most deprived communities are within the Clyde Green Freeport area.
“With the biggest City Deal in the UK and the legacy of COP26, Glasgow City Region has a proven track record of delivery. As Scotland’s economic powerhouse, with unrivalled connectivity across the UK and beyond, we have everything in place to deliver a globally successful green freeport for our region, our residents, businesses, Scotland and the UK.”
The Clyde Green Freeport would achieve net zero by 2040, and include a new district heating system, waste to energy projects, renewable energy generation and projects to roll out green fuel for air, rail, road and sea transport within industries which have been dominated by carbon - including a new £1 billion hydrogen plant which could fuel 25 per cent of Scotland’s HGVs.
The air model would be the world’s first climate neutral airport cluster which would be created at Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) in Renfrewshire.
The rail model would be based in Mossend in North Lanarkshire which is home to a major rail freight hub and rail terminal. Clyde Green Freeport would see regeneration of 283 hectares of land through £17 million of investment unlocked by tax benefits and, in the longer term, £300 million to develop the site and create the infrastructure needed.
The sea model would be based at Greenock, meaning their ocean terminal would double its capacity, with more than £16 million of investment.
There will be investment in electric cranes and straddle carriers, new low carbon marine fuel bunkering capability to support green fleets, and low carbon heating using ground source and river source technologies.
Ross Nimmo, Glasgow Airport’s Head of Planning and Development, said: “The connectivity delivered by our airport plays a key role in supporting the country’s economy and exporting Scotland’s goods and services to the world.
“We are a carbon-neutral airport with a clear roadmap to achieving net zero carbon by the mid-2030s.
“The Clyde Green Freeport will be the catalyst for ensuring Scotland can balance the huge economic opportunities a successful bid would bring with our country’s climate change responsibilities.”
James McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports’ Clydeport added: “With its origins on the Clyde going back to 1858 initially as Clyde Navigation trust, Clydeport has been a mainstay of supporting industry by importing and exporting goods growing to 1 million tonnes of cargo from its KGV facility to 60,000 containers moving through Greenock.
“It remains a significant player in the development of the Clyde industrial growth and is central to the Clyde Green Freeport bid initiative, providing not only the means to service the local markets but to allow a global reach through in house connectivity to other UK ports such as Liverpool and Medway.”
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