A report from Scottish Enterprise Glasgow (SEG) has estimated that 10,000 jobs will be created in Glasgow when the city’s derelict land gets regenerated.

SEG, along with partners Communities Scotland and Glasgow City Council (GCC), has outlined how they plan to spend £10 million cleaning up derelict land in 13 sites around Glasgow over the next two years, including a site in South Nitshill.

SEG’s Operations Director, Stuart Patrick, said, ‘Derelict land is not just a blight on the landscape, it is a serious barrier to attracting the type of investment we need if we are to address the employment and productivity challenges we face. By cleaning up these areas ready for development we can stimulate economic growth through job creation, and improve the quality of life for people living next to them.’

Hanzala Malik, GCC’s Executive member for Development and Regeneration, said, ‘The availability of the Derelict Land Fund will unlock the potential of a number of key sites which have been blighted by poor land conditions. This will make a vital contribution to the Council’s regeneration efforts across the city.’ 

The cash is coming from the Scottish Executive as a result of a successful bid by the partners to the Executive’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund. The funding will help prepare 98 hectares of land, to help attract £140 million of private investment in the shape of around 500 new houses and 190,000 square metres of commercial space.
Mr Patrick added, ‘Last year saw the city’s population rise for the first time in three generations. By continuing to build an environment that people want to live in, we can ensure this trend continues and with it all the positive economic benefits a growing population brings.’

Glasgow has the highest percentage of ‘gap sites’ of any local authority area in Scotland.