White Cart can unlock Paisley’s economic potential

A project to build new bridges and connections across the White Cart river in Paisley is aiming to unlock the town’s economic potential.Flowing through the town centre, the White Cart passes Paisley Abbey out to Glasgow Airport in the north of the town, before joining the River Clyde.Now it is the focus of development proposals to improve connections between the town centre and the airport that could create 450 new jobs and bolster the local economy by an additional £200million.The plans have been developed to link investment in the town’s cultural venues with a major manufacturing centre of excellence anticipated to bring thousands of jobs to the region.A report to Renfrewshire Council’s Leadership Board details the Strategic Business Case for building new connections along the White Cart corridor, including a ‘gateway’ road bridge at Paisley Harbour and an east-west road link from Renfrew Road to the edge of the river.Also included in the £40million project, titled Glasgow Airport Investment Area South, are new pedestrian and cycle routes linking Paisley town centre, Shortroods, Gallowhill and Glasgow Airport and Renfrew; a ‘commercial area’ at Abercorn Street and works on Love Street to improve the look and feel for local residents.