Latest news with #CityDeal
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Number of people to cross Glasgow's Govan to Partick bridge revealed
The Govan-Partick Bridge, which opened on September 7, 2024, has been crossed more than a million times by pedestrians and cyclists. The Glasgow City Region City Deal project, which saw the Scottish and UK Governments each provide £12.685 million in funding for the bridge, reconnected Govan and Partick. The bridge spans Water Row on the Southside to Pointhouse Quay beside the Riverside Museum on the north. Since its opening last September, more than 820,000 pedestrians and over 185,000 cyclists have crossed the bridge. The bridge is of economic, environmental, and social significance, linking communities and numerous visitor attractions and institutions. It forms a central part of the active travel route between the University of Glasgow's Gilmorehill campus and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The Govan-Partick Bridge, one of Europe's longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges, measures six metres in width and has two spans. The moving span, weighing 650 tonnes, is 99 metres long, while the fixed span weighs 45 tonnes and is 15.7 metres long. (Image: (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)) Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: "With the City Deal we're quite literally building bridges between our communities along the Clyde. "Our expectations that the Govan-Partick Bridge would reconnect these historic communities have been exceeded with these fantastic figures. "It quickly became a key landmark in the city and a tremendously well-used travel route and will be critical to the continuing regeneration of our riverside and its surrounding communities in the years to come.' Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: "It is impressive to see the impact this bridge has made for communities across the River Clyde. "As well as improving access to jobs and visitor attractions, it has opened up travel between the University of Glasgow's West End and Queen Elizabeth Hospital campuses for pedestrians and cyclists." Kirsty McNeill, UK Government Scotland Office minister, said: "A fantastic one million crossings in less than nine months is clear proof that this magnificent bridge across Glasgow's beloved Clyde has quickly become a cherished and vital piece of infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists." The Glasgow City Region City Deal will see both the Scottish and UK Governments each provide £500 million of funding for infrastructure projects across the city region.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
One million crossings made over city bridge since opening
It towers over an area that, for at least 2,000 years, had a huge importance as a location where it was possible to ford the Clyde. One of the longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges in Europe, the Govan - Partick Bridge has a width of six metres and two spans. The moving span, which weighs 650 tonnes, is 99 metres long and uses the South Pier (at Water Row) as its access; and the fixed span, which weighs 45 tonnes and is 15.7 metres long. The crossing is also a central part of the active travel route between the University of Glasgow's campus at Gilmorehill and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. READ MORE: New figures released by Glasgow City Council show that, since the public opening last September, there have been more than 820,000 crossings of the bridge by pedestrians, and over 185,000 cyclist crossings. Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: 'With the City Deal we're quite literally building bridges between our communities along the Clyde. "Our expectations that the Govan-Partick Bridge would reconnect these historic communities have been exceeded with these fantastic figures. It's quickly become a key landmark in the city and a tremendously well-used travel route and will be critical to the continuing regeneration of our riverside and its surrounding communities in the years to come.' Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, said: 'It is impressive to see the impact this bridge has made for communities across the River Clyde. As well as improving access to jobs and visitor attractions, it has opened up travel between the University of Glasgow's West End and Queen Elizabeth Hospital campuses for pedestrians and cyclists. The Govan - Partick Bridge is one of the longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges in Europe (Image: Colin Mearns/Herald) "Construction was funded through the Glasgow City Region Deal, which we have supported with £520 million. This investment aims to create 29,000 jobs in the Greater Glasgow region by boosting housing, transport, business growth and research opportunities to improve outcomes for patients.' UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: "A fantastic one million crossings in less than nine months is clear proof that this magnificent bridge across Glasgow's beloved Clyde has quickly become a cherished and vital piece of infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. It is also a powerful reminder of how vital it is to bring people and places together. "Part funded with more than £12 million UK Government investment, re-establishing this historic connection between Govan and Partick is boosting the economy, bonding communities and supporting redevelopment. This is our Plan for Change in action, working with partners to deliver economic growth and a decade of national renewal."
Perth Now
25-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
REVEALED: What type of apartment you should invest in next
Inner-city apartments are finally being endorsed as a hot buy by a major property investment group, as some apartments sell below replacement value. Investment forecaster Hotspotting claims the inner city apartment market is one of WA's five hot markets, based on rising sales activity, along with the city of Stirling, the Belmont and Albany local government areas and the Shire of Mundaring. Hotspotting general manager Tim Graham said city apartments were generally selling below their true value, and below the construction cost required to replace them. Analysis by The Sunday Times shows some city apartments have this year sold below the price they got more than 15 years ago. Mr Graham said while the Greater Perth market was beginning to slow after a strong three-year run, the inner-city apartment sector was a bright spot, especially for investors seeking affordability and long-term potential. 'The days of 20 per cent annual house price growth in Perth are behind us, but that doesn't mean the opportunities have dried up,' Mr Graham said. 'Right now, the smart money is moving into Perth's affordable and high-yielding unit markets and into regional centres like Albany, where infrastructure and lifestyle appeal are driving impressive growth.' Inner Perth apartment start in the $200,000s, with one bedroom abode commonly selling in the $300,000s and $400,000s, making it one of the few CBDs of Australia's capitals with accessible price points for inner-city living. Mr Graham said the city's residential appeal was growing, partly because of major projects under the $1.75 billion City Deal, including the Edith Cowan University campus, the WACA ground upgrades, and concert hall redevelopment. Mr Graham said past prices were not necessarily a good indication of price growth ahead, especially when there had been several changes, including growing acceptance of apartment living. 'Our analysis is suggesting that now is when we believe the timing to purchase is ripe,' he said. Analysis by The Sunday Times highlights the price drop for some city apartments, including one 120sqm, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment on St Georges Terrace which sold for $820,000 in 2009. It sold again in March this year for $740,000, which represents a $80,000 drop in value over 16 years. A separate two-bedroom apartment on St Georges Terrace sold in April for $735,000 this year, down $53,000 from the $788,00 price it sold for a decade ago in May 2015. On Hay St, a two-bedroom apartment that sold for $1.02 million in 2012 has re-sold this year for $915,000. Another example includes a one-bedroom apartment on Murray St that sold this year for $435,000, down from its last sale price of $500,000 in 2012. In another Murray St complex, a two-bedroom apartment sold in March this year for $400,000, down from $480,000 in 2013. But investor fortune differs wildly, with some city complexes increasing in value, with some even doubling in price in the last few years. 'As a buyer, I wouldn't have any concern at all in buying something that is cheaper today than it was historically — or even from brand new — I'd see that as me buying at good value, providing I'm confident in the market direction,' Mr Graham said. 'And from our research, we see the demand for units in these locations rising due to the affordability factor as well as the lifestyle changes that we are noticing across the country whereby units are often the preferred living arrangement. 'There are so many cohorts of people opting for the lock-up and leave lifestyle that units offer, not to mention the safety, location, building amenities.' WA property analyst Gavin Hegney said apartments were generally bought by investors for their rental yield, rather than capital growth. He said that there was an art to choosing to right apartment, with buyers needing to consider whether views can be built out. They should also consider the structural standard of the building, and whether there was enough money set aside by the strata company for repairs.
Glasgow Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Revamp of Glasgow train station's entrance step closer
Glasgow City Council has approved awarding £120,000 to Network Rail to develop plans for refurbishment of the façade. It is expected to cost around £3m. Plans for a complete redevelopment of the station — which would have included new lifts to improve accessibility — were put on hold last year due to a lack of funding. Installing lifts was estimated to cost around £10m, council leader Susan Aitken said. Funding for the design work and the wider entrance revamp will come from the Glasgow City Region City Deal, a £1bn infrastructure programme funded by the UK and Scottish governments. READ MORE: Business owner hits out at silence over Celtic title party In October last year, an update on City Deal projects revealed the High Street scheme wasn't going ahead as originally proposed. At a meeting on Thursday, Cllr Aitken said City Deal sub-projects had been reprofiled due to 'rising costs as a consequence of inflation and a whole number of issues that impacted on the cost of capital projects', including Brexit and war in Ukraine. 'We are not at this point able to completely restore the entirety of the ambition for High Street station, but what we are able to do now is, working with Network Rail, address refurbishment of the facade of the station.' Transport Scotland previously said it had provided £700,000 towards the development of the scheme, and suggested the council could change the scope to make it more affordable. A wider City Deal project will see public realm and active travel improvements on High Street under the city's Avenues programme. These are currently being designed. READ MORE: 'Beloved' founder of popular restaurant sadly dies Cllr Aitken said the facade revamp is particularly important given this 'significant investment into High Street' as the front of the station 'isn't the most attractive right now'. A further City Deal grant for construction work is expected in the future. Cllr Aitken added the removal of Transport Scotland funding was 'a very large part of the reason why the full High Street station project, which would have installed lifts to make it more accessible, has had to be deferred'. 'The installation of the lifts is by far the most costly part of the project, that would be in the region of £10m. The funding that we are talking about for the refurbishment of the facade is closer to £3m.' She said talks are ongoing with Network Rail over funding. 'We are the instigators of this project, so it is appropriate that City Deal funding is allocated towards it. 'But it is Network Rail's asset and we would expect them to at the very least be in conversation with us about whether further funding might be required at a future stage, and that would be where we would expect them to step up.'
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Update on plans for Wales' largest new office with building work end date in sight
Update on plans for Wales' largest new office with building work end date in sight Thousands of staff at banking giant Lloyds are due to move into the building next year The huge building will be home to 3,000 employees of Lloyds The largest new office scheme in Wales has secured a £15m loan from the Cardiff Capital Region to complete construction work. Family-owned property development firm JR Smart has been backed with funding from the city region's Strategic Premises Fund for its 114,000 sq ft Cardiff city centre John Street 10-storey office scheme. Last year Lloyds Banking Group agreed a long-term lease to occupy the entire building. While the external structure is completed it still requires significant internal work such as mechanical engineering. Lloyds has agreed a 15-year lease, with a break after 10, at just under £30 per sq ft. The new headquarters building for Lloyds will be able to accommodate 3,000 staff in various teams providing customer service and support services to many parts of the group. JR Smart is expected to complete work on John Street this December, which following a fit-out will see Lloyds taking occupancy of the entire building in the summer of 2026. Article continues below Welsh Government cabinet secretary for economy, energy, and planning Rebecca Evans said: "This investment in new office space at John Street in Cardiff will support key priorities such as business growth and regeneration for the regional economy. "We continue to actively explore opportunities to work collaboratively with the Cardiff Capital Region in order to deliver significant economic benefits." Wales Office Minister Nia Griffith said: "I am very pleased to see the UK Government's investment in the Cardiff Capital Region. This will help to deliver on our economic growth mission, a vital part of our plan for change. Article continues below "This development, along with improved transport links, will provide fantastic facilities to encourage businesses to base themselves in Cardiff and to expand, helping to create new jobs and put more money in people's pockets." Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and the city region's portfolio lead for the Strategic Premises Fund, said: "This investment plays its part in further developing exciting and environmentally sustainable office space that national brands wish to take up, adding to the long-term inclusive growth in our region. Our vision to connect communities, services and businesses continues to develop and our interventions in office space and transport links have a key transformative role." The £50m Strategic Premises Fund from the city region, made up of the 10 local authorities of south-east Wales and funded by its now nearly fully committed £1.2bn City Deal from the UK and Welsh governments, is evergreen with interest and capital from loans made reinvested to back other building and infrastructure projects.
