ECONOMIC growth in Glasgow needs to be about more than just “shiny shops and offices,” according to the city council leader.

Susan Aitken said the city must not repeat mistakes of the past in efforts to create jobs and regenerate communities.

She said the £1bn city deal for Glasgow and the west of Scotland is an opportunity but that the projects must be looked at afresh to ensure people in communities will benefit.

Ms Aitken took over as leader of the city council in May when the SNP emerged as the largest party after the local elections.

Speaking at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation conference on Inclusive Growth at the Lighthouse, Ms Aitken said major construction projects need to be joined up with efforts to improve lives.

She said: “Building infrastructure presents enormous challenges and opportunities. We must get it right and not have wasted opportunities and revisit the mistakes of the past.” 

She said we need to avoid future generations saying: “Oh my god, what were they thinking”.

As well as the City Deal there is the Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) project to expand Buchanan Galleries and revamp the surrounding area, which has been on hold for several years.

Earlier this month, the Evening Times reported how the deal was progressing again after talks between the council and the owners Land Securities and other agencies.

But Ms Aitken said the city can’t just rely on new retail outlets and developments in the city centre.

She said: “The TIF deal is possibly back on it’s under discussion.”
However, she added: “It can’t just be about shiny shops and offices. It needs to also impact on people.”

On both TIF and the City Deal, she said if the council is to be able to change lives and neighbourhoods for the better then it must link economic regeneration with social policy.

On the City Deal, she said: “We now have an opportunity for change with a change in the leadership of six of the eight councils in the City Deal area.

“We have an opportunity to pause and analyse progress on different projects.”

Ms Aitken didn’t specify which projects but she added “and where necessary retrofit them”.

The City Deal Projects include the rail link to Glasgow Airport, development along the Clyde waterfront for employment and housing, regeneration in Sighthill, and the areas around the Forth and Clyde Canal in the north of the city and at Collegelands and The Barras and an office workspace development at Tontine House in Trongate.

She added: “We need to look at the impact they will have on people. 

“Are we maximising opportunities through procurement and apprenticeships, are we using every opportunity to remove the barriers people face to access decent secure well paid jobs in their communities.”