How Govan is becoming the new Gorbals as it embraces a high-tech future
Published: 16 October 2024
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Writing for The Scotsman Prof Ken Gibb points out after the opening of a new pedestrian bridge, Govan has been reconnected to Glasgow’s West End, setting it on a path to becoming a regeneration success story, similar to the Gorbals.
Govan is on the verge of a transformation that could position it as one of Glasgow's most exciting regeneration projects. However, we must act now with a clear strategy and strong leadership to avoid repeating past mistakes.
After deindustrialisation and significant depopulation in the aftermath of the Second World War, Govan has experienced a return to population growth since the 2000s, quietly surpassing the city’s average.
Despite its setbacks, Govan accounts for one in ten jobs in Glasgow, with key employment hubs centred around the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the BAE naval shipyards. It also offers developable residential land, untapped potential for private housing, and a compelling case for more and better affordable housing, as well as student accommodation. Moreover, Govan stands to benefit from the Glasgow River Innovation District (GRID) – a collaboration between the University of Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise, and the city council – which seeks to strengthen existing industry partnerships and foster new ones in the most dynamic sectors of the economy, with significant potential benefits for the local community.
These benefits include investments such as the new Health Innovation Hub, which will attract industries, including start-ups and scale-ups from the university and beyond, helping to establish a thriving life sciences cluster in Govan. Project partners like Morrisons Construction and Kadans Science Partner are ensuring that the development meets the needs of the community and creates job opportunities that are accessible to local residents.
Combined with the improved access provided by the new Govan-Partick pedestrian bridge, Govan is now reconnected to Glasgow’s West End. This presents an opportunity to develop affordable first-time buyer homes in Govan and Ibrox, which could help create a more balanced housing mix while supporting increased social and affordable housing – reintegrating Govan into the wider city and city region.
Read the full article on The Scotsman website.
First published: 16 October 2024