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Clyde partners launch Green Freeport bid: updated

[ June 9, 2022   //   ]

A public private partnership is planning to bid to for one of the Scottish government’s two Green Freeport locations.  

AGS Airports’ Glasgow Airport, Peel Ports’ Clydeport, Mossend International Railfreight Park in North Lanarkshire and a partnership of the Glasgow City Region councils is proposing the Clyde Green Freeport, an air, sea and rail economic zone.

The bid will be submitted later in June to the Scottish and UK governments.

The partners say that the initiattive would attract major new investment to Glasgow City Region, develop global trading opportunities, create tens of thousands of new jobs, accelerate net zero objectives agreed at COP26, and take the region’s world-class innovation economy to the next level.

A green freeport is a large, zoned area within a defined boundary which includes a rail, sea or airport. Operators and businesses in the zone can benefit from a package of tax and other incentives.

The bidders say that Clyde Green Freeport would maximise the area’s transport network and facilities at Glasgow Airport, the freight interchange at Mossend, Bellshill and four deep-water ports on the River Clyde. It would also make significant progress towards decarbonising the area’s transport infrastructure.

Clyde Green Freeport Bid’s senior responsible officer Kevin Rush – who is also director of regional economic growth for Glasgow City Region – said:“As Scotland’s economic powerhouse, Glasgow City Region is uniquely positioned to create a highly successful green freeport to put the country at the forefront of global trade and decarbonisation.

“We have everything necessary to make a successful bid: unrivalled connectivity across the UK and beyond; one of the most educated populations in the UK; a GVA of £47.3 billion and 33% of Scotland’s GDP; three world-class innovation districts; home to internationally acclaimed universities and research institutes; and renowned business expertise across key sectors.”

Clydeport director, James McSporran, added: “Clydeport has been a mainstay of supporting industry by importing and exporting goods growing to 1 million tonnes of cargo to 60,000 containers moving through Greenock. It remains a significant player in the development of the Clyde industrial growth and is central to the Clyde Green Freeport bid initiative, providing not only the means to service the local markets but to allow a global reach through in house connectivity to other UK ports such as Liverpool and Medway.”

Peter D Stirling Ltd and Mossend International Railfreight Park director, Andrew Stirling, also commented:”Along with our partners, we’re in a very good position at Mossend to deliver this bid with our existing electric rail infrastructure and plans for our all electric rail freight terminal and freight park, all to be operated using alternative energies that put Scotland at the forefront in the UK for championing zero-carbon rail freight.”

Ronald Leitch, operations director at Glasgow Airport, said: “We are excited to be part of the Clyde Green Freeport bid. As the industrial powerhouse of Scotland, the Glasgow City Region is the natural home for a freeport which will stimulate jobs, increase trade, attract new companies and make it easier for existing ones to export their goods and services.

“Becoming a freeport will unlock huge development potential at the airport cluster and bolster the west of Scotland’s global reputation as a centre of excellence for aerospace and advanced manufacturing.”

The plans include what is described as the world’s first climate neutral airport cluster at Glasgow Airport. It would help propel the Scottish aerospace sector towards net zero carbon air travel decarbonisation.

The 185-hectare cluster includes the airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) in Renfrewshire, boosted further by the opening of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre.

A new state of the art facility will double cargo handling capacity, enabling the airport to increase the value of Scottish exports beyond the 25% it currently handles and making a vital contribution to meeting the UK and Scottish targets of hitting £1 trillion in exports annually.

The plans for theMossend rail terminal in North Lanarkshire would see regeneration of 283 hectares of land through £17 million of investment unlocked by tax benefits and, in the longer term, £300 million to further develop the site and create the infrastructure needed.

A new £44 million high capacity, decarbonised rail interchange would be developed with eight 775m rail sidings served by two electric gantry cranes, electric rail shunters, cross docking facilities and associated road and rail access infrastructure. In addition, there will be a net zero freight park consisting of 2.1 million square feet of manufacturing and logistics buildings and associated facilities.

The Greenock ocean terminal would double its capacity, with more than £16 million of investment, to allowa modal shift from the 27,000 trucks.

There will be investment in electric cranes and straddle carriers, new low carbon marine fuel bunkering capability to support green fleets, and low carbon heating using ground source and river source technologies.

An enhanced logistics management system will improve efficiency in vehicle movement.

In Inverclyde regeneration of 85 hectares of land along the River Clyde, enabled bytax site benefits, would generate £36 million of new investment to upgrade, reclaim and regenerate land that would otherwise not be commercially viable.

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