City Deal latest news

Residents, community groups and businesses are being offered the chance to access the latest information on a road that aims to cut congestion and boost business in Bishopbriggs.

As part of its requirements under the Planning (Scotland) Act, East Dunbartonshire Council is carrying out pre-application public consultation on the Westerhill Development Road (previously referred to as Phase 5 of the Bishopbriggs Relief Road).

Information was made available and feedback sought via an online webpage, StoryMap and public drop-in session in November 2024.

A second drop-in event is now being held – in the War Memorial Hall, Balmuildy Road, Bishopbriggs, G64 3BS – on Monday 10 February 2025, 4-7pm.

The Triskelion design team and Council officers will be on hand to explain the proposed route and answer any questions.

Don't worry if you can't attend, you can access information and get in touch via the webpage between 7 and 28 February 2025. Alternatively, email citydeal@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or call 0300 123 4510.

There will be an opportunity to submit representations to the Council as the local planning authority when an application is submitted.

The road – proposed for land to the north of Westerhill Road, Bishopbriggs – is part of the Council's £34.88 million Place and Growth Programme, supported by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

He continued, “A StoryMap will be available online via our website and you can also contact the team. In addition, a second drop-in event is being held in Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall on Monday 10 February, 4-7pm, as part of the process prior to a planning application being submitted.”

The aim of the new road is to help boost the local economy by unlocking strategic sites in the Westerhill Regeneration Area, while reducing non-essential traffic in Bishopbriggs town centre – helping to alleviate air quality issues.

Public consultation took place in May/June 2023 on potential plans for the final phase of the Bishopbriggs Relief Road, now known as the Westerhill Development Road, after which an option was selected and progressed.

The City Deal project is taking an integrated approach to improve infrastructure within East Dunbartonshire, with two main elements:

• Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration
• Delivery of the Westerhill Development Road and Masterplan for Westerhill.

The overall completion date is the end of 2026. The Scottish Government is investing £520 million into the Glasgow City Region City Deal, with the UK Government providing £524 million.

This section has the latest updates issued by the City Deal team.

Read here for the latest information on our City Deal project including details of our Public Engagement Events and your opportunity to provide feedback.

Consultation is taking place to help support investment, economic activity and the creation of jobs in Bishopbriggs.

Planning guidance has been developed for the Westerhill Regeneration Area.

Views are being sought on the draft guidance, which will provide a Masterplan to direct future growth, attract new investment and deliver long-term employment opportunities.

This work supports East Dunbartonshire Council's £34.88 million Place and Growth Programme – backed by £15 million each from the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

The Masterplan is a long-term, overall framework for the development of "land parcels" that will support investment in the area and future planning applications. It has been shaped by public consultation carried out in 2023, as well as site investigations, surveys and ongoing work with agencies, landowners and local businesses.

You can find out more, access a range of documents and get in touch via the webpage.

The closing date for comments is 6 May 2024.

Councillor Gordan Low, Leader of East Dunbartonshire Council, said,

It also seeks to protect the local environment, promote sustainability and provide better connections. Please take the time to visit the webpage and get in touch if you can."

Long-term objectives of the Masterplan include:

• Supporting and enabling investment to create jobs
• The creation of a high-quality commercial land use area which capitalises on its natural assets and is well connected
• The protection and enhancement of the High and Low Moss areas, and peat soil
• The creation of green links, and health and wellbeing improvements via path accessibility, active travel, public transport and open spaces
• Road improvements
• The refurbishment of vacant buildings and improvements to the existing Westerhill Industrial Estate.

The City Deal programme – in conjunction with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Glasgow City Council – will see an integrated approach to improve infrastructure within East Dunbartonshire and the north of Glasgow, with three main elements:

• Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration
• Delivery of the Westerhill Development Road and a Masterplan for Westerhill
• Improvements to the A803 Route Corridor.

Once adopted the Westerhill planning guidance will become part of the current Local Development Plan.

• The £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal is an agreement between the UK Government, the Scottish Government and eight local authorities across Glasgow and the Clyde Valley.
• The eight local authorities in Glasgow City Region are East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Consultation is taking place to help guide future improvements along a busy route through Bishopbriggs and North Glasgow.

East Dunbartonshire Council is asking residents, businesses and groups to help steer the A803 Corridor Improvements Project.

It's part of the Council's £34.88 million Place and Growth Programme – supported by £15 million each from the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

The project – which also involves Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) – aims to create active travel links and prioritise buses to better connect key retail, regeneration, health and education locations.

In 2022, the Council consulted on the main issues and opportunities for the route. Views are now being sought on the emerging options.

You can access information, including designs, and have your say via an interactive StoryMap. Visit the consultation webpage

Consultation is open from Monday 11 March to Sunday 21 April 2024.

In addition, a drop-in event will take place on Thursday 21 March at Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall, Balmuildy Road, G64 3BS – between 1pm and 7pm. It's an opportunity for people to view options and ask questions.

Councillor Gordan Low, Leader of East Dunbartonshire Council, said,

"The project aims to progress sustainable and active travel links, boost the local economy and employment opportunities, improve air quality and give everyone more choice on how they travel. It will also help to reconnect communities currently severed by a busy main road.

"All feedback received will be used to help inform final design work. Please get involved if you can. We want to hear the views of communities served by the corridor to ensure the project develops in line with their needs."

Meetings are also taking place with key stakeholders and local accessibility groups.

If you have any queries, please contact the project team by email – citydeal@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Alan Moir, Vice Chair of SPT, said, 

• The £1.13billion Glasgow City Region City Deal is an agreement between the UK Government, the Scottish Government and eight local authorities across Glasgow and the Clyde Valley.
• The Scottish Government is investing £520 million into the Glasgow City Region City Deal, with the UK Government providing £524 million.
• The eight local authorities in Glasgow City Region are East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Exciting plans to create a new Civic Space in Bishopbriggs are taking centre stage thanks to an online exhibition.

The new focal point is part of the Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration project – a key element of the Council's £34.88 million Place and Growth Programme, supported by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

You can find out more via an online exhibition – which will be available until 5pm on 30 June 2023.

In addition, there will be an in-person information event in BetterBriggs Community Garden – at the Triangle Shopping Centre, near St Matthew's Church, where the Civic Space will be created – on Saturday 17 June 2023 from 11am-3pm.

Members of the design team will be on hand to discuss plans and answer any questions.

Plans for the Civic Space include:

• A flexible and adaptable space which can accommodate a wide range of uses – e.g. events, markets, fairs and pop-up business space
• Increased greenery with areas of informal play
• The development of an artwork feature, seating walls and resting areas
• A performance area with seating and a canopy feature
• New lighting, making the area feel safer and more welcoming at all times of the day
• A revamped footpath adjacent to Kirkintilloch Road
• A new pedestrian crossing for easy access to Morrisons new store.

It is all being created by the Council as part of the Bishopbriggs Public Realm Plan, which builds on various consultation and engagement exercises, as well as the Bishopbriggs Town Centre Strategy.

Feedback from residents, groups and stakeholders has helped to shape a detailed design proposal for this first phase of works.

Residents, businesses and groups are being invited to help guide the location of a new route which aims to boost business opportunities and cut congestion in Bishopbriggs town centre.

Consultation is being held on options for the new Westerhill Development Road (previously referred to as Phase 5 of the Bishopbriggs Relief Road).

It's part of the Council's £34.88 million Place and Growth Programme – supported by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

There are five options for a new stretch of road starting just north of the Westerhill railway bridge at Lochgrog Roundabout (Phase 4 of the Bishopbriggs Relief Road) and tying in with the A803 Kirkintilloch Road. An upgrade to Torrance Roundabout is also proposed as part of these options.

Find out more and have a say between 29 May and 22 June 2023 – visit the consultation webpage.

A public drop-in event is being held on Monday 19 June 2023, between 5 and 8pm, at Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall, Balmuildy Road G64 3BS. Members of the project team will be there to explain the options and answer any questions.

The delivery of the Westerhill Development Road (WDR) aims to:

• Unlock key strategic sites in the Westerhill regeneration area to ensure there is space for local companies to grow, to attract other high-quality businesses and reduce barriers to jobs locally
• Remove non-essential traffic from travelling through Bishopbriggs town centre
• Alleviate air quality issues on the A803 and enable route corridor improvements
• Support a well-connected workforce within East Dunbartonshire and the wider City Region
• Promote improved road infrastructure, coupled with sustainable travel options in and out of East Dunbartonshire, particularly for commuting journeys.

People are being invited to help develop exciting plans to support investment, businesses and jobs in Bishopbriggs. Westerhill.

Consultation is being held on the Westerhill Regeneration Area Framework Masterplan between 11 April and 16 May 2023.

It's a chance for people, businesses and groups to steer regeneration of the 370-hectare Westerhill site, part of the Council's £34.88 million Place and Growth Programme – supported by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

The masterplan will be a long-term, overall framework for the development of "land parcels" and will be used as guidance for future planning applications.

It also identifies land for the delivery of the Westerhill Development Road (formerly referred to as Bishopbriggs Relief Road Phase 5), which will be the focus of a separate public consultation this summer.

For more information, visit the News section of our website.

Residents, businesses and groups are being invited to help further guide efforts to revamp public realm areas in Bishopbriggs.

A concept plan has been developed for the town centre following engagement/consultation in 2022 and 2021.

You can check out a new interactive, online exhibition and have a say by visiting the website - between Monday 6 February and Tuesday 28 February 2023.

In addition, a drop-in event is being held at Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall on Tuesday 7 February, from noon-6.30pm, where members of the design team will be on hand to answer any questions and collate feedback.

You will also be able to access a hard copy of the proposals and a comment form at Bishopbriggs Library (from midweek w/c 6 Feb).

The Bishopbriggs Public Realm Plan is a key part of the Council's £34.88 million Place and Growth Programme - supported by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

The plan aims to:

• Give priority to walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport over cars
• Rework the existing public realm and deliver new public spaces - creating new opportunities for all
• Make the town centre a more active, inclusive and engaging place in which to spend time.

Councillor Gordan Low, Leader of the Council, said,

It's important to note that this concept plan is not set in stone - it's an overview of aspirations for Bishopbriggs town centre. All feedback will be collated and analysed, and will inform detailed proposals. Further consultation will then be held.

"It's envisaged that works will be delivered in phases. Support has already been secured from the Glasgow City Region City Deal, but additional funding will also be sought. Please give your views if you can."

This Public Realm Plan is underpinned by objectives and a vision set out in the 2018 Bishopbriggs Town Centre Strategy.

The City Deal project - in conjunction with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Glasgow City Council - will see an integrated approach to improve infrastructure within East Dunbartonshire and the north of Glasgow, with three main elements:

• Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration
• Delivery of Westerhill Development Road (formerly known as Phase 5 of the Bishopbriggs Relief Road) and a Masterplan for Westerhill
• Improvements to the A803 Route Corridor.

The Scottish Government is investing £500 million into the Glasgow City Region Deal, as well as £20 million to create a medical research and commercialisation facility.

Scottish Government Business Minister Ivan McKee said, "The Scottish Government welcomes progress on revitalising Bishopbriggs town centre; this consultation proposes support to encourage walking and cycling in line with our wider goals to advance more sustainable options to reach net zero and support local communities.

"The Scottish Government has contributed £500 million towards the Glasgow City Region City Deal to support a more prosperous, greener and fairer economy."

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said, "The additional opportunity for the community to have their say during the project planning stages will help ensure the improvements to the town are going to benefit local people and their businesses.

"Making Bishopbriggs a more pedestrian friendly and inclusive place to spend time will allow for new business opportunities and investment to come to the area.

"The UK Government is supporting the Bishopbriggs Public Realm Plan as part of our £523 million Glasgow City Region Deal investment."

• The £1.13billion Glasgow City Region City Deal is an agreement between the UK Government, the Scottish Government and eight local authorities across Glasgow and the Clyde Valley.
• The eight local authorities in Glasgow City Region are East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.
• For more information on East Dunbartonshire's City Deal Place and Growth Programme, visit the City Deal webpages.