News

Clyde Metro project boosted by UKIB collaboration

A project that seeks to accelerate the development of Clyde Metro - and in turn support improved employment opportunities and access to education and health services for more than 1.5 million people - has been agreed between Glasgow City Council and the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB).

UKIB has been working with the council to support the development of financial and commercial plans for the mass transit project which was recently confirmed by the Scottish Government as a key priority for future transport investment.

The collaboration will explore critical funding and investment options for Clyde Metro, which represents a multi-billion-pound investment over a 30-year period.

The relationship with UKIB has arisen through the work of the city council’s Green Economy team as part of Glasgow’s Green Deal, a transformative mission to reshape the city’s economy to help deliver equitable, net zero carbon and climate resilient living by 2030.

Cllr Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: “Clyde Metro will be transformational across the west of Scotland, a catalyst for major economic growth and development, and social and educational opportunities while also making a huge contribution to our decarbonisation agenda.

“This collaboration with UKIB will help us further explore those critical funding and investment options for Clyde Metro, inform early engagement with potential partners and identify the financial structures necessary to support large scale mass transit projects and the wider net zero transition agenda.

“In progressing the vital discussions around the resourcing of Clyde Metro we can then begin to talk to our citizens about routes and destinations, about timetables for delivery and about the transformational benefits it will have for them and their communities.”

UKIB has provided commercial insights around the investment case for Clyde Metro and ran a series of workshops with regional stakeholders and representatives from the public and private finance sector to explore funding options for mass transit.

The pilot project also marks the beginning of a wider strategic relationship with UKIB, who will review broader net zero investment work and seek to identify further areas for future collaboration or possible lending.

John Flint, CEO of the UK Infrastructure Bank, said: “Local authorities have a pivotal role to play in the journey to net zero and supporting regional and economic growth - the twin missions of the Bank.

“It is a privilege to work with Glasgow so we can better understand how the Bank can help local authorities to build the capabilities and financial expertise they need to drive the transition to a Net Zero, climate resilient, thriving economy.”

If you would like to contact Sarah Walker about this, or any other story, please email sarah@infrastructure-intelligence.com.