THEY are the main drivers of Scotland’s economic growth. But without significant investment, policy change and moves to improve connectivity, there is a distinct chance the country’s three biggest cities could fail to reach their potential – and fall behind their European counterparts.
On the face of it, there are no startling revelations in “Scotland’s Urban Age”, a report produced by law firm Burness Paull into the future of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We know, for example, that Aberdeen must find a way to reduce its reliance on oil and gas, Glasgow needs to persuade more people to live within the city centre as it transitions from industrial to knowledge-based economy, and that higher-speed, more-efficient transport links are required to connect not just the big cities, but other parts of the country too. We also know there is an issue with low productivity which is crying out to be addressed – a problem which has blighted the UK economy as a whole in the decade since the financial crash.
However, with so much of city life challenged by the current economic conditions, notably on the embattled high street, the report’s arrival is timely.
The authors look to stimulate debate on what is needed to propel Scotland’s AGE cities (Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh) to a new era of growth and, to that end, offers interesting food for thought.
Among the more eye-catching ideas is to connect Edinburgh (via Glasgow) with Belfast and Dublin through with a “Celtic version” of the Oresund Bridge, which connects Sweden and Denmark. Such a connection should be backed with fast links to Aberdeen via Dundee, so the benefits are felt throughout the country. The report also makes an interesting call for more powers to be devolved to the AGE cities to develop their own futures, citing Eindhoven in the Netherlands, which is said to enjoy far more autonomy than any city in Scotland.
Some may dismiss such concepts as impractical blue-sky thinking. But with Brexit around the corner, and no certainty on what that will bring, the time for bold thinking is now.
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