5.22 The Plan sets out a series of proposals that complement the aims of the Joint Structure Plan and support the aims of the Alliance Strategy and the more detailed objectives and actions of the Joint Economic Strategy. Central to achieving this will be the maintenance of a minimum 10 year supply of serviceable, available and marketable land for industrial and business development in line with the requirements of NPPG 2 and the Joint Structure Plan.

5.23 One of the main issues affecting industrial and business development in the City is the quality of the industrial and business land supply. While the quantity appears sufficient, the supply is dominated by small sites that often lack the flexibility to attract industrial and business investment. Many suffer from infrastructure and physical constraints and require substantial investment prior to development. There is a shortage of larger good quality, well located sites immediately available for development.

5.24 The Plan is not constrained by past trends in industrial and business development activity but seeks to maintain and improve on Glasgow’s recent positive performance. Assessment of the adequacy of the land supply will not be based solely on past rates of take-up but will reflect the potential of the Core Economic Development Areas and local industrial and business development opportunities to improve further, Glasgow’s economic development performance.

The City Council will maintain a minimum 10 year supply of serviceable, available and marketable land for industrial and business development at all times.

5.25 The Joint Structure Plan identifies Core Economic Development Areas as the focus for much of the additional land required for industrial and business development. These areas reflect traditional concentrations of industrial and business activity within the City. They are also areas that have experienced the greatest loss of employment through the restructuring of the City’s economy. The boundaries reflect the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) priority areas and adjoining established industrial and business areas. The aim is to facilitate a higher rate of economic activity within these areas and provide alternative brownfield development opportunities that are better related to the workforce and public transport systems. There are four Core Economic Development Areas within the City at Govan, North Clyde, Glasgow East End and Glasgow North. With the exception of Glasgow North, these fall within the Clyde Gateway and Glasgow Waterfront Metropolitan Flagship Initiatives referred to in the Joint Structure Plan. The Council recognises that past levels of development activity within these areas have been modest, particularly in view of the high levels of unemployment, the extent of brownfield opportunities and the potential to maximise existing infrastructure. The Council will seek to secure increased levels of industrial and business development activity within the Core Economic Development Areas by improving the quality of the industrial and business land supply and ensuring that it is sufficient to satisfy the desired increase in development activity.

The City Council will seek to secure increased levels of industrial and business development activity within the following Core Economic Development Areas:

Govan;

North Clyde;

Glasgow East End; and

Glasgow North