Steven Hendry: Clyde Gateway Innovation - powering Glasgow’s delivery engine for investment

Across the UK, there is no shortage of regeneration strategies, masterplans or ambition. Cities are rich in vision. What is often harder to find is delivery, projects that move beyond intent and into tangible, investable opportunity.

That distinction matters more than ever. In a market defined by caution and increased scrutiny, investors are prioritising locations that can demonstrate progress, where infrastructure is in place, partnerships are aligned and development is already underway.

This is where Clyde Gateway stands apart. For nearly two decades, Clyde Gateway has been transforming the east end of Glasgow and parts of South Lanarkshire through sustained, coordinated delivery. Since its inception, it has helped unlock over £1.5 billion of inward investment, creating a platform for long-term economic growth and private sector confidence.

Now, that work is entering a new phase. At UKREiiF, Clyde Gateway Innovation will be formally positioned as the next chapter in that journey - a focused proposition designed to attract high-growth sectors and accelerate delivery at scale. Alongside this, Phase 1 of the Shawfield development will be brought forward, offering a significant opportunity for modern, innovation-led industrial space.

Through Clyde Gateway Innovation, the programme is no longer an emerging opportunity. It is an established platform for investment.

With more than £100 million of development currently underway and a proven track record in delivering high-quality commercial space, momentum is both visible and measurable.

Developments such as EastWorks, now home to a cluster of high-growth occupiers across advanced manufacturing, cyber and space technology, demonstrate the area’s ability to attract innovative businesses and support them as they scale.

This is not regeneration in theory. It’s delivery in practice at a time when occupier requirements are evolving rapidly. Across Scotland, we are seeing strong demand for modern, high-quality space, particularly where there is access to skilled labour, sufficient power infrastructure and a clear commitment to ESG principles. Yet supply in many locations has struggled to keep pace.

Clyde Gateway Innovation is directly addressing that gap. From XWORKS to the planned Red Tree Labs development and the next phase at Shawfield, the focus is on delivering flexible, future-ready space aligned to the needs of growth sectors.

This is space designed not just for occupation, but for innovation and expansion. What differentiates Clyde Gateway is not just what is being built, but the ecosystem that supports it. Partnerships with Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and University of Strathclyde ensure that investment is aligned with skills, innovation and long-term economic priorities.

Combined with links to the Glasgow City Innovation District, this creates a location where businesses are not only accommodated, but supported to grow.

For investors, this level of alignment, between place, product and demand, is critical. In the current climate, investors are rightly focused on risk. They are looking for locations where planning is clear, infrastructure is established and delivery partners are aligned. Clyde Gateway Innovation offers exactly that.

Years of upfront public sector investment have removed many of the barriers that typically delay development, while the partnership model ensures a coordinated and market-responsive approach.

The result is a proposition that is not only compelling, but credible and viable. Regeneration is often discussed in terms of what could be. Too often, however, it remains there.

What distinguishes Clyde Gateway, and now Clyde Gateway Innovation, is its ability to move from ambition to action, translating long-term vision into real, investable opportunity. For those attending UKREiiF, it is a story worth paying close attention to. Because in today’s market, delivery is not just important. It is everything.