Several firms are in talks with regeneration chiefs about securing work units at a new £35million business park being developed on wasteland next to the M74 extension.
The revelation comes after an international oilfield specialist became the first tenant to move in to the Clyde Gateway East Business Park at Auchenshuggle, next to St Peter's Cemetery, London Road.
The 36-acre site will eventually provide 430,000 sq ft of industrial units with the potential to accommodate more than 1000 workers.
So far three units costing £14m have been built and Glacier Energy Services chiefs have moved into a 23,000 sq ft one.
They have switched from a smaller 16,000 sq ft unit in Motherwell, South Lanarkshire, and brought with them 40 production workers.
Glacier operates three firms and chief executive Dave Sturrock believes the switch will be good for business. He said: "It will provide us with greater capacity for investment in our key products and services, ensuring we have the resources in place to meet demand and enhance delivery."
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing officially opened Glacier's new East End base as bosses revealed plans to recruit another 40 workers in the next few years and pledged the new jobs will go to locals. The business park is being developed by the Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company and it's already locked in on-going talks with a number of other potential tenants.
Chief executive Ian Manson would not reveal the details but told the Evening Times: "I'm delighted to welcome Glacier to Clyde Gateway East Business Park and, with some significant discussions on- going with a number of other interested parties, I'm sure more good news on the jobs front for the East End isn't too far away."
Mr Manson bought the site for £3m three years ago. It used to have a coal mine on it and had been used as a dumping ground for slag from the neighbouring Clyde Ironworks. He's since had to spend £4.6m on clean-up operations and new infrastructure but it was money well spend.
Since the site was purchased the M74 extension has been built with part of the new five-mile stretch of road passing next to the business park, just minutes from Junction 2A.
The park is expected to attract start-ups as well as established companies looking for bigger premises and locations closer to Glasgow.
gordon.thomson @eveningtimes.co.uk
