City Deal funding to advance Clyde Metro development (March 2024)

The development of Clyde Metro will be advanced by £12.155m of City Deal funding.

With the scope of the Glasgow Airport Access Project now incorporated within a wider, regional metro opportunity - approved City Deal business case funds will be allocated to accelerate development of Clyde Metro, following its recommendation as a key future transport investment priority in the Scottish Government's second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).

The funding contribution will help support the Case for Investment development stage for Clyde Metro which is being led by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), working alongside Transport Scotland and Glasgow City Council.

The Case for Investment will set out the Strategic Business Case for Clyde Metro and the arrangements for its initial delivery phases. It will also take forward work to improve sustainable transport access to Glasgow Airport, and longer-term plans for future phases.

SPT have also confirmed the availability of additional funding of £2.2m for Case for Investment development, subject to partnership approval.

You can read more about the Case for Investment for Clyde Metro in a report which was presented to SPT's Strategy and Programme Committee in November 2023.

On behalf of Glasgow City Region, Glasgow City Council will manage the City Deal funds, including entering into agreements with SPT given their Case for Investment lead role, and as the procuring organisation for commissioning external, expert support.

Reflecting the regional funding contribution, a Local Authorities Senior User Group will be created to ensure strong regional voice, and to embed Clyde Metro's transformational benefits into the programme's scope and decision making.

Working collaboratively will also support effective engagement in the planning and appraisal of Clyde Metro routes, modes, delivery phasing choices and its wider, transformation benefits.

A Clyde Metro update report was presented to the Economy, Housing, Transport and Regeneration City Policy Committee on 5 March 2024 - with the City Deal funds formally approved for acceptance by the City Administration Committe on 21 March 2024.

The update report also highlighted that a joint working opportunity for Clyde Metro and Public Health Scotland is progressing to identify how decision-making processes during the development of capital investment projects could be improved to maximise positive health outcomes and reduce the risk of creating health inequalities.

Clyde Metro brings together SPT, Glasgow City Council (for Glasgow City Region), and Transport Scotland to look at a long-term integrated approach to transport infrastructure and services across the Region. It will also look at urban development regeneration as part of plans to deliver wider transformation benefits to housing, place-making, sustainability, economy, environment, health, and social strategies.