THE chief executive of urban regeneration specialist Clyde Gateway has retired from his role after almost 15 years.
Ian Manson has helped to deliver real and lasting change for the communities of Clyde Gateway since its inception in 2008. Since then, Dalmarnock, Rutherglen, Shawfield and Bridgeton have been transformed with over £1.5 billion investment from the public and private sectors.
7,000 jobs have been attracted to the area during this period, and more than 3,500 new homes have been built, with thousands more fully refurbished and improved by community-based housing associations.
Clyde Gateway explained this has helped to create a ‘tangible legacy’ for the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and a ‘flourishing location’ for people to choose to live and work. The Athletes Village for the games and a number of sporting venues and new leisure destinations are based in Clyde Gateway, with the Emirates Arena helping to attract businesses such as the recently opened Topgolf, which alone has brought hundreds of new jobs to the area.
A key target of Clyde Gateway was to bring vacant, derelict and often contaminated land back into productive use. Now over 680 acres of land have been transformed for development of both commercial and residential space along with community facilities and new parks.
This includes the 50-acre Cuningar Loop Woodland Park, developed on a former landfill site in Rutherglen. Other milestones have included the construction of Clyde Gateway East and Rutherglen Links business parks. Both have been built on vacant land and attracted international businesses.
Brought up in Argyle and Clackmannanshire, Ian previously worked in the regeneration of inner city Birmingham before working in senior roles for Glasgow City Council. He was given an honorary doctorate from the University of Strathclyde in 2022 for his leadership in successfully changing the lives of people and businesses in the Clyde Gateway area.
Martin McKay, former executive director of regeneration at Clyde Gateway, has been appointed the new chief executive and will take over the post immediately after Ian’s retirement.
Ian Manson said, “I am immensely proud of what Clyde Gateway has achieved since 2008. It was important for me personally that the people living and working in Dalmarnock, Rutherglen and Bridgeton could be part of the success of their area.
“We have helped bring thousands of new homes and jobs to Clyde Gateway, securing the legacy of the Commonwealth Games in 2014. It has been an immense effort by our talented staff team and board members and it could not have happened without the support of our many stakeholders and the local community.
“We have achieved so much, often against the odds, but there is more to do to complete the physical regeneration and to help local people improve their incomes, gain more skills and achieve long-lasting health. This talented team, under the stewardship of Martin McKay, will no doubt continue to make Clyde Gateway a huge success story and an enviable place to live and work.”
Alison Thewliss MP, chair of Clyde Gateway, commented, “Ian has been instrumental in the continued regeneration of Clyde Gateway by leading the charge and securing its future after the success of the Commonwealth Games. We often hear of people returning to the area after many years and not believing the transformation that has taken place and also from local people whose families have benefitted from our work.
“We can now build on Ian’s legacy by focusing on the huge opportunities for the community arising out of net zero, green jobs and skills, whilst cementing our position as Scotland’s first Green Regeneration Innovation District. With the support of the Scottish Government and local authorities, the team at Clyde Gateway are excited to continue this success story.”
