City Deal and Infrastructure Programme
Renfrewshire Council · 18 February 2026
Back to Leadership Board — 18 February 2026 and its agenda
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 18 February 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: City Deal and Infrastructure Programme ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report is to update the Board on the finalisation of the City Deal and Infrastructure Programme delivery phase and the arrangements to transition business as usual functions to appropriate core service areas. 2. Recommendations 2.1 The Leadership Board is asked to: i) Note the report on progress to conclude delivery of the city deal infrastructure projects and the operational changes to bring the infrastructure delivery arrangements to a conclusion. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. City Deal and Infrastructure Programme Delivery 3.1 Since the Glasgow City Region City Deal was approved in 2014, Renfrewshire Council has successfully delivered an ambitious regeneration agenda, focused on creating the infrastructure and business environment to generate economic growth and jobs, while promoting active travel and green opportunities to ensure the area is a fairer, more inclusive place where all our people, communities, visitors and businesses thrive. 3.2 This ambitious programme has been delivered during an unprecedented period of economic disruption caused by several significant global events including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the significant consequential economic disruption as well as ongoing geopolitical and economic volatility.
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PUBLIC During this period, the City Deal and Infrastructure team ensured the Council built on the enabling investment provided by the City Deal and delivered the full planned investment programme. The completion of the city Deal infrastructure projects has been a key element of the recovery and inclusive growth in the Renfrewshire economy. 3.3 The Renfrew Bridge formally opened in May 2025, and the new bridge and active travel infrastructure has proved hugely popular with communities on both sides of the River Clyde. Over the past 7 months of the bridge being open, more than 2.46 million users have crossed the bridge. This performance far exceeds the projected volumes calculated throughout the business case development stages and highlights the strategic importance of this travel link for Renfrewshire and the wider City Region The route has quickly established itself as a vital travel link which has enhanced connectivity and is supporting sustainable travel across the Glasgow City Region. 3.4 The ambitious enabling infrastructure elements of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) have also been completed, including roads, bridges and drainage provided by the Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA) project; the design and construction of a state-of-the-art, fifth generation District Heating Network; the procurement of private sector delivery partner Buccleuch Property; the design and construction of the high quality Netherton Square public realm; and an active travel link from AMIDS to Inchinnan connecting subsequently to new housing at Dargavel. 3.5 The Council was also successful in attracting two anchor tenants - the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, both of which are open for business operating at Netherton Campus.
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PUBLIC 3.6 AMIDS South is a £59million infrastructure project which will connect Paisley town centre with the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport through a series of transport and infrastructure improvements. It is a key component of Renfrewshire’s long-term strategy to enhance connectivity, support economic growth, and promote sustainable transport. 3.7 The construction phase of the AMIDS South project is underway to create a new road bridge across the White Cart river, a gateway route along Abercorn Street and Harbour Road, a new road linking Renfrew Road to the bridge which also serves the new Paisley Grammar Community Campus, and a new crossing under Renfrew Road to connect one end of Gallowhill with the Renfrew to Paisley walking and cycling route (which connects into the new school). 3.8 Significant work was required to develop the Levelling-Up and Council funded project and reach this stage, including the design of roads and the new bridge, alignment with the new Paisley Grammar Community Campus project, designing and securing funding for the Gallowhill Link, undertaking a complex compulsory purchase process, planning considerations, coupled with an unusual court of session declarator case. This has all now been completed and the final phase of this project is underway with full completion expected in 2028, albeit the Gallowhill Link and new road connecting to the school is scheduled to finish in 2026. Management of the delivery of this project is being managed by the Environment Housing and Infrastructure Service as part of the significant strategic investment portfolio in the Council’s transport and active travel network.
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PUBLIC 3.9 Work on the build out and economic development of AMIDS continues with Netherton Campus now in the final stages of becoming a designated tax site alongside Glasgow Airport as part of the Glasgow City Region Investment Zone. This specialised tax status will provide a further incentive to attract major inward investment to AMIDS and help establish the development and Renfrewshire as a major global destination of choice for advanced manufacturing and innovation investment Planning for the flexible Tech Terrace speculative space project is expected to be submitted in the coming weeks and will provide opportunities for smaller and start-up businesses to locate to AMIDS in highly flexible growth space, supporting the opportunity for expanding to their own purpose-built facility on site. Scalable start-up space of this nature for developing advanced manufacturing businesses is in scarce supply across the city region and this is therefore expected to provide in-demand facilities. AMIDS has also been designated by the UK Government as a ‘Priority Project’ for investment. This was announced by the UK Chancellor at a Regional Investment Summit in October 2025 and the National Wealth Fund (NWF) has been appointed to assist the Council and its partners in accelerating development. Considerable work is ongoing with NWF and other bodies in ensuring the maximum benefit to AMIDS is forthcoming. 3.10 In parallel, the City Deal and Infrastructure team has also managed the delivery of generational investment in Paisley town centre venues, namely Paisley Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre and the creation of a new Learning and Cultural Hub on Paisley High Street which includes Paisley Central Library. These were delivered as part of the Cultural Infrastructure Programme and numerous projects have won awards for their successful completion and impact on the town – having been noted by judges as a key part of Paisley’s recent accolade as Scotland’s Town of the Year.
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PUBLIC 3.11 The major construction phase of the final element of this programme, the flagship Paisley Museum Reimagined project, has very recently completed and is transitioning to the extensive fit-out period and object install, expected to be completed over the remainder of 2026 ahead of a planned public reopening. It is the first major transformation of Paisley Museum in its 150-year history and will bring the historic building up to modern standards, safeguarding its long- term future, and will also through modern areas of expansion double the amount of space available to showcase its internationally significant collections, creating a visitor attraction that places Paisley for the first time firmly among the UK’s leading museum destinations. 3.12 The improved cultural infrastructure across Paisley is now better placed than ever to capitalise on the internationally significant cultural and heritage story to transform the future for visitors and events within Scotland. The completion of this programme of work will bring new footfall, added life and vibrancy to the town centre, boosting the local economy and opportunities for businesses, provide new homes for top class cultural events, and preserves the heritage of the town. In this context, work is progressing with the City Region Hub Team, who will provide specialist expertise to develop arrangements to assess the economic impacts arising from the investment over the long term. 3.13 The CD&I team also worked with heritage building owners to deliver the Paisley Townscape Heritage Initiative and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (TH/CARS2) which invested to save some of Paisley’s local privately- owned heritage buildings from deterioration – with the Liberal Club on Paisley High Street being a notable success. In the absence of the investment grant provided, the building was at significant risk of deteriorating beyond repair.
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PUBLIC 3.14 Further successful investment has been delivered in a range of external sports facilities, including an international-standard hockey pitch and running track at the On-X Leisure Centre in Linwood, an upgrade of facilities at Ferguslie Sports Centre, and provision of new pavilions to bring back into use grass pitches at St James Playing Fields in Paisley. This ensures recreation and sporting facilities are available at all levels for our local young people and residents.
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PUBLIC 3.15 Community Benefits It is worth also noting that since 2015, the City Deal and Infrastructure programme has secured and delivered significant community benefit outcomes and activities within the local area. Targeted Recruitment and Employment Delivered Targeted Recruitment and Employment over 60 Targeted Skills & Training over 200 Supply Chain Development over 20 Community Engagement more than 240 hours volunteer time Community Investment Over £80,000 Local Glasgow City Region Supply chain spend Over £35,000,000 * *the local spend only relates to CWRR main works and Paisley Town Hall as Morrisons/ Grahams are the only contractors that formally recorded and reported it. The construction phase of the Paisley Museum Re-imagined project and the AMIDS South project continue, and Contractors involved are committed to delivering the following additional outcomes/ activities. Commitments secured for AMIDS S +remaining PMR Targeted Recruitment and Employment 13 Targeted Skills & Training 24 Supply Chain Development 10 Community Engagement 8 Community Investment 10 3.16 Project Evaluation The City Deal and AMIDS South Projects have formal ongoing post completion/operations evaluation requirements set out in the approved business cases to ensure the benefits are realised. In respect of benefits realisation for both the GAIA and CWRR projects, officers have been continually reviewing completed commercial and other developments in and around the respective project areas. This includes integrating the annual Renfrewshire Housing Land Audit, reviewing planning applications, and engaging in discussions with developers and landowners. Several positive outcomes from both projects have been recorded. Outcomes are submitted quarterly to the City Region Programme Management office. A similar requirement will follow completion of the AMIDS South project in terms of reporting the benefits realised to UKG through the Levelling Up Fund officers.
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PUBLIC Going forward, officers will continue to monitor completed developments, utilising GIS searches to ensure all benefits are captured accurately. OneRen will also monitor the benefits of the completed cultural infrastructure venues, Paisley Central Library and external sports projects and report this through their Board. For example, for the Museum, when completed, OneRen will record footfall/visitors and a year after opening OneRen will undertake a summative evaluation which will be both quantitative (number of people etc) as well as qualitative. In addition, and as referenced above, an economic impact assessment will be progressed in partnership with the City Deal Hub team to track the long term economic benefits secured from the investment. 4. Operational Changes 4.1 The City Deal Infrastructure Team was established in 2015 to support the Council to develop and progress the Council’s projects through the City Deal business case process and once approved provide a dedicated resource to procure and deliver the complex range of major infrastructure projects. The remit of the team was subsequently expanded to provide the lead for the delivery of the Cultural Infrastructure investment programme across Paisley, working in partnership with OneRen colleagues. 4.2 Taken together, this programme of investment represents the most significant and complex ever delivered by the Council and as referred to above has been delivered during the most difficult and volatile economic and construction environments experienced for generations. The foresight of the Council to establish a dedicated team for this purpose has therefore served the Council well in terms of being able to respond to rapidly changing circumstances. 4.3 It was always planned that the City Deal delivery team was a temporary arrangement to support the projects development and delivery phases. As the investment programme has progressed projects to a conclusion, the scale of the city deal team has been gradually reduced in line with long term plans through natural turnover and with key professional support officers (finance, legal, procurement etc) transitioning to other major projects. 4.4 Over the coming months, a range of residual activities will be progressed that will bring the delivery of the infrastructure programme to a full conclusion and following completion of this phase the City Deal Infrastructure team will be fully disbanded. 4.5 There remains several residual investment elements and business-as-usual aspects arising from the projects which have been transitioning to the appropriate core service areas across the Council as summarised below: • Support in relation to the Council’s ongoing City Region activities along with the Council’s role to develop out AMIDS with our procured commercial Joint Venture partner, has transitioned to the Head of Economy and Development.
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PUBLIC • Operational Management of the Renfrew Bridge and the bridge team has transferred to EH&I. • As referred to above delivery of the AMIDS South project is being delivered by the EH&I investment team alongside the wider strategic investment in the transport network. • The Paisley Museum Reimagined fit out, object install and planned opening programme following completion of the construction phase will be led by the OneRen team. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – there are no direct financial implications arising from this report. 2. HR & Organisational Development – the wind down of the City Deal team will be managed through natural deletion of posts, redeployment to core activities and other major projects and use of the Council’s voluntary severance arrangements where appropriate. Any use of the severance arrangements will be progressed through the Council’s existing governance and reporting arrangements. 3. Community/Council Planning – • Our Renfrewshire is thriving – These projects will link our communities and facilitate new development opportunities and business growth with both projects improving skills development, educational and health opportunities for people within the local communities as well as aiding employees to access these major existing and new employment centres. The projects align with and aid the outcomes of the Renfrewshire Economic Strategy 2020 -2030 and the Renfrewshire Economic Recovery Plan • Our Renfrewshire is well - The new safer walking and cycling infrastructure incorporated within these projects, will help encourage active travel by children and young people, as well as adults. • Reshaping our place, our economy and our future – These infrastructure projects provide connectivity and access to new and existing jobs for people in our communities. During the project construction period hundreds of new jobs have been created and as a result of new business creation it is estimated that thousands of additional new permanent jobs will be created. NMIS and MMIC are already up and running as a direct consequence of this enabling infrastructure. The combined projects investment in linking active travel infrastructure and education and will provide connectivity and access to new and existing jobs for people in our communities.
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PUBLIC • Tackling inequality, ensuring opportunities for all – CWRR provides access to development opportunities along Meadowside Street, increases the potential to reinvigorate Blythswood Retail Park and improves access for the communities on both sides of the River Clyde to facilities and employers on the other side such as the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital; NHS Golden Jubilee; West College Scotland’s Clydebank campus and Yoker train station. The project also increases the employee catchment area for businesses planning to locate at AMIDS, while improving links to suppliers and customers. • Creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy - The completed infrastructure includes segregated provision for walking and cycling and will also enable improved public transport links CWRR opens up development opportunities, which through the LDP will be managed as sustainable linked communities. • Working together to improve outcomes - Officers are working closely with local communities, neighbouring councils, private sector organisations, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and other partners to ensure the maximisation of positive outcomes from the projects noted within this report. 4. Legal – none 5. Property/Assets – completed assets will require to be maintained and operated by the Council. 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 because it is for noting only. 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 – all contracts are tendered in accordance with Council procurement procedures and where relevant taken to FRCS Board for approval. 10. Risk – Project specific and Programme level risk registers have been established for all projects. These are kept under regular review and reported to the Council’s internal City Deal and Infrastructure Programme Board. Should the Regional project funding bid be successful the project will be further scoped through the Glasgow City Region Business Case development process.
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PUBLIC 11. Privacy Impact - none 12. COSLA Policy Position – not applicable 13. Climate Risk – the project will provide sustainable active travel routes and encourage sustainable neighbourhoods and transport links including provision of blue green infrastructure 14. Children’s Rights – None List of Background Papers None ___________________________________________________________________