Renfrewshire Council Updates: Development partner to deliver growth at AMIDS

Scotland’s home for manufacturing innovation has taken another major step forward with confirmation of its development partner.

Scotland’s manufacturing innovation district progressing at pace

Renfrewshire Council is partnering with Buccleuch Property

Up to £7.6million initial phase investment anticipated Includes building a 3,400sqm flexible facility for innovative start-ups Renfrewshire Council is leading development of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).

The district, based around Glasgow Airport at Netherton, Inchinnan and Westway, promises to bring thousands of high skilled jobs by attracting UK and international advanced manufacturing companies to locate here.

Now the Council has confirmed it is forming a Development Partnership LLP with Tarras Park Properties Ltd, part of Buccleuch Property, to secure investment into AMIDS.

This follows technical support from Avison Young to the Council to secure the development partner and will see Buccleuch fund a 3,400-square metre facility for start-ups and SMEs as part of up to £7.6million towards the initial development phases.

AMIDS centres on a 52-hectare Councilowned site Netherton being transformed into a modern, sustainable, employeefocused centre for manufacturing companies to locate to, where they can access advanced manufacturing technology and collaborate with specialists.

It’s home to the new University of Strathclyde-operated National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) flagship facility and the state-of-the-art CPI Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre.

Glasgow City Region City Deal funding delivered the underpinning infrastructure which is now complete and the Council has also added a central square and Scotland’s first, fifth-generation renewable energy heating network to supply low carbon heating.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “AMIDSisalreadydelivering onitsaimstoattractjobsandgrowth into Renfrewshire and make Scotland’s manufacturingsectoraleadingplayeron theglobalstage.

“Manufacturinginnovationisin Renfrewshire’s DNA. From textile productionofthefamousPaisleyPattern tospitfireenginesandsteamboilers,so muchcapabilityandtechnologycamefrom Renfrewshireandwasexportedworldwide.

“Today,companieshereremain rightattheforefrontofcutting-edge manufacturing,AMIDShometorenowned internationalmanufacturersRollsRoyce, BoeingandDoosanBabcockandmajorlife science and biotech science firms Thermo Fisher Scientific, Terumo Aortic and Peak Scientific.

“Some8000peopleworkin manufacturingrolesinRenfrewshire, contributingmorethan£770millioninto theeconomyandthisnewpartnershipwill enable us to take the district to the next level andachievelong-termgrowth,providing amajorboosttothelocal,regionaland Scottisheconomy,whilesupporting manufacturers to innovate and transition to net zero.”

Edinburgh-based development partners Buccleuch have a UK-wide investment portfolio and have helped deliver a range of business park, bespoke building and commercial regeneration developments including Shawfair Park in Midlothian and Aberdeen Energy and Innovation Parks.

Sandy Smith, Development Director, Buccleuch Property, said: “AMIDS is a fantasticopportunityforBuccleuchand wearedelightedtobeappointedaspartner totheLLP.Theattractionofahighprofilesitethatishometotwopioneering anchorinstitutionsandsittingalongside Renfrewshire Council and its academic partners,isobvious,andallowsusto capitaliseonourextensiveexpertiseinthe knowledgesector.

“WebelieveAMIDSisagreatplaceto expandScotland’sadvancedmanufacturing sector.Nethertonismaster-plannedto accommodate businesses of all sizes andBuccleuch’sfirstaction,working collaborativelywithRenfrewshireCouncil and other stakeholders, is to deliver start-upandscale-upresearchand manufacturingspacetomeetdemandfrom Scotland’sentrepreneursandwewillstart workontheseproposalsimmediately.

“Inparallel,wehavetheopportunity todeliverbespokepropertysolutionsto businessesseekingtojoinRenfrewshire Council’s and Buccleuch’s vision for AMIDS.”

Aerospace giants Boeing are also in the district at Westway in their first foray on Scottish soil as they research metallics manufacturing with NMIS experts, and there’s also NMIS’ group facilities the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre at Westway and the Advanced Forming Research Centre at Inchinnan.