Business park set to be built next to Glasgow Airport

A 52-hectare site at Netherton Farm will be transformed and it’s part of a long-term plan to create a manufacturing district for Scotland in Renfrewshire.Plans to develop a business park next to the Glasgow Airport runway have been given the green light by councillors.The 52 hectare site at Netherton Farm in Renfrew has been earmarked for the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC).This forms part of a wider vision for the area to create a new Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District for Scotland in Renfrewshire.Around 15 to 20 hectares have been allocated for the NMIS and MMIC, while a further five to seven hectares have been set aside for roads and parking.Renfrewshire Council submitted the application on behalf of the City Deal team and have left around 25 hectares for inward investment.At Tuesday’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, Councillor James MacLaren asked planning chiefs why the application had not been dealt with at an earlier board.Fraser Carlin, head of Planning and Housing, explained the council had to confirm whether Scottish ministers needed to run the rule over the application.The planning application was sent to Scottish ministers on January 16 and receicpt confirmed on January 18.On March 14, the planning authority heard from Scottish ministers who said they had no intention to intervene.The letter was received two days after the last Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, prompting a special meeting to be called for Tuesday.The board then moved to approve the planning application.