Whilst the economy of the Clyde never stops, the festive season is an ideal time to reflect on 2012 and recognise the huge collective progress made every month towards the Clyde’s regeneration.
Around £750 million of new projects were announced during 2012,
taking the total amount spent or committed by the public &
private sectors in the last decade along the 13 miles of the Clyde
from Glasgow Green, via Renfrew to Dumbarton, past the £4 billion
mark!
And with dozens of other Clyde Waterfront projects either
completing this year or currently under construction, here are some
of our good news stories from the last 12 months.
Thousands of people turned out in Renfrew for a day of
celebration to mark the reopening of Renfrew Town Hall after a £5.2
million refurbishment.
A planning application was approved to redevelop a 1960s office
block on Queen Street in Glasgow city centre into a new landmark
building.
The Scottish Government announced £250 million of funding to
upgrade the Glasgow Subway trains and stations, half of which are
within the Clyde Waterfront area.
Creative Clyde was confirmed by the Scottish Government as one
of Scotland's new Enterprise Areas, offering potential investors
business rate discounts or enhanced capital allowances.
Clyde Clippers re-launched their ferry service (Broomielaw,
Pacific Quay, Govan, Braehead) teaming up with City Sightseeing
buses to run 4 trips a day right through the summer until
October.
The day after the Olympic torch arrived in Glasgow, it set off
again the next morning from the Riverside Museum. Two million
people have visited this amazing attraction since June 2011.
SPT announced that some infrastructure for Fastlink, a dedicated
bus route between the city centre, SECC and the South Glasgow
Hospital would ready for Glasgow 2014, with completion in 2015.
Capital Shopping Centres announced that it would invest £200
million (more retail space, new arena and hotel) creating thousands
of jobs at Braehead, already Scotland's most popular shopping
centre.
River City, the BBC One soap opera shot at studios in Dumbarton
celebrated 10 successful years.
Construction of The Hydro, one of Clyde Waterfront's biggest
current projects, reached a major milestone, with a topping out
ceremony to mark the completion of the roof structure.
The new 7 storey laboratory at the South Glasgow Hospital, which
is set to develop lifesaving treatments, technologies and diagnoses
to benefit patients across Scotland, was officially opened.
Glasgow City Council planners gave permission for the Clyde
Energy Centre (Peel Environmental) which will turn rubbish into
energy to be built close to the King George V Dock in
Cardonald.