Democracy Spraffa

2 - Disposal of Land for Substations – CWWR Bridge Supplies - Final.

Renfrewshire Council · 30 August 2023
Back to Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board — 30 August 2023 and its agenda

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___________________________________________________________________
To: Infrastructure, Land & Environment Policy Board
On: 30 August 2023
___________________________________________________________________
Report by: Chief Executive
___________________________________________________________________
Heading: Disposal of Land for Substations – CWWR Bridge Supplies
___________________________________________________________________
1. Summary 
1.1 This report seeks to obtain the Boards agreement to the disposal of property,
required for the creation of two electricity substations within the land acquired
for the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside (CWRR) project.
__________________________________________________________________
2. Recommendations 
2.1 It is recommended that Board: - 
(i) agree to declare the property outlined in red on the attached plans (number
613351422-(1)-002), and (number ESC112516-(1)-002) surplus (The
“Property”); 
(ii) agree to sell the Property to SP Distribution plc (“SPD”), along with
servitude rights for appropriate connections, subject to the Head of
Economy and Development agreeing their exact location and subject to the
terms and conditions detailed within the body of this report; 
(iii) grant authority to the Head of Corporate Governance in conjunction with
the City Deal & Infrastructure Programme Director to conclude the disposal
of the Property as detailed in this Report.

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3. Background 
3.1 The Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside (CWRR) project comprises a new
‘opening’ bridge across the River Clyde; the Renfrew Northern Development
Road and new cycle routes, all of which are aimed at providing improved access
to development opportunities, employment, education, health and leisure
locations. 
The Project will link the communities of Renfrew, Yoker and Clydebank and will
provide improved access to the considerable job opportunities being delivered
by the Glasgow Airport Investment Area Project (GAIA), including the national
development known as the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District
Scotland (AMIDS). The AMIDS is already home to the new National
Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) and the Medicine Manufacturing
Innovation Centre (MMIC). 
3.2 Planning consent for the Project was granted by Scottish Ministers on 16th
November 2018. 
3.3 The Renfrewshire Council (Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside, City Deal)
Compulsory Purchase Order 2018 was approved by Scottish Ministers and
became operative on 4th September 2020. 
3.4 The CWRR project provides the infrastructure for: improved traffic flows to and
from the GAIA area; removal of potential increased congestion in Renfrew Town
Centre; enhanced connectivity of GAIA to Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire -
thus increasing its potential for success and increased rate of employment
delivery. 
3.5 CWRR also opens currently stalled opportunities for residential development
sites on the river front, which could house the families attracted by the new
employment opportunities at GAIA. 
4. Current Construction 
4.1 Work on the CWRR infrastructure started in December 2022 and to date new
roads have been constructed and land prepared for the new river crossing. 
4.2 The new opening bridge will require power supplies on both sides of the river
to operate each swinging section of the bridge. 
4.3  SPD has identified a suitable location within each of Lobnitz Dock (south of the
river) and Rothesay Dock (north of the river) to house the required substations. 
Both locations are within land acquired by the Council to facilitate the delivery
of the CWRR project.

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5. Provisional Terms and Conditions 
5.1 This new electricity substations are required to provide power to the new
opening bridge. 
5.2 The Council will sell the land shown outlined in red extending to 25 square
metres or thereby at each location, together with servitude rights over the areas
shaded blue, on the attached plans, for a price of £1 each. The Servitude rights
granted will be subject to the normal commercial terms of making good etc. 
5.3 The land sale will be subject to the following ground burdens: 
• The Property will be used as an outdoor electricity substation with
underground cables connecting thereto as described in the missives; 
5.4 The Council will include the following restrictions on the land adjacent to the
Property, in order to protect the SPD equipment: 
• No buildings or permanent fixtures shall be erected within a lateral
distance of 2m on either side of the proposed underground cables, with
the exception of street furniture required for the safe operation of the
cycleway/footway and/or the road, including, but not limited to, lighting
columns, fences and guard rails:
• No trees or deep-rooted shrubs shall be permitted to be grown within a
lateral distance of 2m on either side of the proposed underground
cables. 
5.5 In the event that the new outdoor electricity substations are required to be
constructed in advance of the completion of the new access roads leading to
the sites, the Council shall grant sufficient temporary rights of access for
vehicles etc for the construction of the substations together with the installation
of the associated underground cables from the public road to the Property.
_________________________________________________________________________
Implications of the Report 
1. Financial and Legal – The Council has a valuation report from an internal
registered valuer and the land could reasonably be sold for between £127,000 -  
£150,000 per acre, as part of a larger disposal. This would value each 25 square
metres (0.006 acre) to be transferred to SPD currently at circa £762 - £900. 
Section 74(2A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (“the 1973 Act”)
permits the Council to dispose of land for less than the best consideration where
either the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained is less than the
threshold amount (£10,000), or the difference between that consideration and the
proposed consideration is less than the marginal amount (25% of the best
consideration). In this instance the Authority is satisfied the disposal is reasonable
as the best consideration is well below the £10,000 threshold. The benefits to
Renfrewshire and its residents of attracting occupiers to the AMIDS site includes
the high-quality jobs and training in manufacturing skills that will be created and
thereafter, high quality businesses and investment will be attracted to the

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surrounding location thereby creating further high-quality jobs. The Council’s
position is also protected by the use restrictions and provisions detailed at clause
5.3 above. 
2. HR & Organisational Development – Not Applicable. 
3. Community/Council Planning – 
• Our Renfrewshire is thriving – The opening bridge will help regenerate the
Clyde Waterfront as an attractive riverside and urban area that supports existing
and promotes new residential, industrial, commercial, business, retail and
leisure opportunities. 
The project will better link communities and businesses on both sides of the
river to a number of key locations including the Clyde Riverside, the Advanced
Manufacturing and Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS), Clydebank, Renfrew,
Paisley Town Centre and Braehead Centre. The project will help improve the
attractiveness of the vacant, derelict and underused sites that offer immense
potential for development of new and enhanced commercial, business and
housing uses. Improved connections between key educational and health
centres would also improve educational and health opportunities for people
within the local communities as well as aiding employees to access these major
employment centres. Projects outcomes are envisioned to reduce traffic
congestion in Renfrew town centre and aid in improving air quality. 
• Reshaping our place, our economy and our future - The completed CWRR
infrastructure will provide connectivity and access to new and existing jobs for
people in our communities and across the Glasgow City Region. 
• Tackling inequality, ensuring opportunities for all - the employment related
community benefit commitments create job opportunities for all but targeted at
hard to reach citizens through liaison with Invest in Renfrewshire and similar
Glasgow City Region employability services. 
• Creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy - The completed CWRR
infrastructure will help enable active travel and improve access to public
transport links for people in our communities.  
• Working together to improve outcomes - The CWRR project includes works
within the boundaries of 3 local authorities: Renfrewshire Council; West
Dunbartonshire Council and Glasgow City Council. The Council has worked
closely with these other Glasgow City Region Member Authorities and Peel
Ports, the Harbour Authority to take the project forward. By linking the
communities of Renfrew, Yoker and Clydebank the CWRR project will provide
improved connections between key educational and health centres, such as:
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital; Golden Jubilee Hospital; West College
Scotland (Clydebank and Paisley Campuses) and West of Scotland University.

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4. Legal - Disposal of the property as outlined in the body of the report. Best Value
duty has been considered and this transaction is compliant. State Aid has been
considered and the transfer of this Property is not State Aid. 
5. Property/Assets – As per this report 
6. Information Technology – None. 
7. Equality & Human Rights -   
(a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in
relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts
on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights
have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the
report.  If required following implementation, the actual impact of the
recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored,
and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website.   
8. Health & Safety – None. 
9. Procurement – None. 
10. Risk – The Property is conveyed subject to development conditions to ensure the
land is used for outdoor electricity substations. Failure to provide the required
land to SPD will lead to lack of supply and the new bridge will not function. 
11. Privacy Impact – None. 
12. Cosla Policy Position – Not Applicable. 
13. Climate Risk – project has been designed based on the climate change
parameters applicable at the time. The project has been designed in accordance
with PAS 2080 which aims to reduce embedded carbon within the project
development. 
_________________________________________________________
Author:  Barbara Walker, City Deal and Infrastructure Programme Director; 
Email Barbara.walker@renfrewshire.gov.uk

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Check'dDrawnRev Date Appr'd
Title
ProjectAppr'd DateScaleDrawn Check'd
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Client
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STREET, RENFREW, PA4 8SP
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0m 25m 50m 75m 100m
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