CONSTRUCTION work is due to start on a £59 million project to connect Paisley town centre with the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport.
Renfrewshire Council’s AMIDS South project has received £38.7 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the council committing a further £18.8 million, to create a new road bridge across Paisley Harbour, a 1.7km gateway route along the White Cart River, and a network of roads, cycling and walking links from the town centre train station and bus interchange to AMIDS, Glasgow Airport and Inchinnan.
A new road from Renfrew Road to the bridge crossing will also be created, which will connect into the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus, as will dedicated walking and cycling routes. A safe access route from Gallowhill using the underpass on the former railway line will be constructed using £1.5 million provided by Transport Scotland.
Farrans Construction has been appointed to deliver the project with construction planning underway, with the full project expected to be complete in 2028.
Renfrewshire Council Lleader Iain Nicolson said, “AMIDS is one of the most significant developments in Renfrewshire’s recent history as it will bring high-quality jobs, world-leading industry and provide a significant boost to the area’s economy so it is important that we provide the appropriate access to Scotland’s home of manufacturing innovation.
“This project will not only provide infrastructure to better connect communities to education and employment opportunities, but it will also significantly improve the offer to organisations looking to locate here with enhanced access to the airport and the fourth-busiest train station in Scotland.”
The infrastructure will complement the recently constructed Renfrew Bridge, which links Renfrew with Clydebank, Yoker and the wider Glasgow City Region.
Patrick Murray, Scotland’s regional director for Farrans, added, “AMIDS South is a project which will deliver major economic and connectivity benefits for the town of Paisley and wider Renfrewshire, and we are looking forward to getting work started on site.
“Our experienced team has recently completed the highly-successful Govan to Partick Bridge in Glasgow and we have a long history of projects in the transportation sector in Scotland including Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven in joint venture as SFN, M80 Stepps to Haggs and the A737 Dalry Bypass in Ayrshire.
“We are working through the final stages of preparation with our client Renfrewshire Council and will be engaging on the ground with local stakeholders shortly.”
