Technical Notes 2025, Issue 105 - Clyde Metro Update

• The purpose of this Technical Note is to update Members on the progress made to develop the Clyde Metro Case for Investment (CFI) programme.   The CFI will establish the programme-level business case for Clyde Metro, serving as a crucial first step in defining the projects that will shape Clyde Metro in the coming years.   

• In December 2023, the Glasgow City Region (GCR) Chief Executives Group, under its delegated authority from the GCR Cabinet, approved the allocation of £12.155 million in business case funding from the Glasgow City Region City Deal to support the development of the Case for Investment (CFI) for Clyde Metro. The Scottish and UK Governments are each contributing 50% to the Glasgow City Region City Deal funding package. A funding strategy for subsequent stages of Clyde Metro will be identified through the CFI process which is currently underway, including the funding requirements and options for the detailed design, business case and construction of a first phase
• SPT is the lead partner for the development of the CFI while Glasgow City Council is managing the funding arrangements on behalf of GCR, while Transport Scotland have a project assurance role. All Councils within the GCR, including East Dunbartonshire Council, are stakeholders in shaping the direction of the project
• East Dunbartonshire Council, along with the other stakeholders, has participated in the project through the Senior Officer Group.  To date, this has included providing local insight into transport needs, accessibility gaps, and development priorities in East Dunbartonshire; contributing observations regarding the potential network options and integration with existing public transport infrastructure; consideration of the need to align development planning with Clyde Metro’s goals, especially around housing, economic growth and sustainability; and participating in consultation to ensure the CFI reflects local priorities and community needs
• The CFI comprises the following work packages:
  • CFI Stage 1a – Case for Change and Initial Option Development
  • CFI Stage 1b – Client Advisor Services
  • Clyde Metro Framework
  • CFI Stage 2 – Programme Business Case
• The CFI process will be guided by multiple workstreams, including a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) based appraisal, business case development, technical assessments, statutory impact evaluations, and stakeholder engagement. It will support informed decisions on route selection, phasing, funding, and implementation, while outlining the transformational benefits of Clyde Metro. Developed in line with STAG and the five-case model for business cases defined in HM Treasury’s Green Book, the CFI is a required step for securing Government grant funding
• SPT appointed Mott MacDonald in February 2024 to support delivery of CFI Stage 1a.  This work package included the following workstreams:

• The Case for Change is a foundational step in the CFI process, forming a key component of the Strategic Case within the Programme Business Case. It outlines the challenges facing the Glasgow City Region; opportunities to improve economic, environmental and social outcomes; a vision for a transformed future, integrating Clyde Metro with wider investment priorities; and the ‘Golden Thread’ – how improved connectivity and land use will address the current challenges and unlock future opportunities
• The Case for Change builds on the Strategic Transport Project Review (STPR 2) published in December 2022, while updating and regionalising/localising the content as appropriate.  It has been developed through stakeholder collaboration and there has been an emphasis on aligning with national, regional, and local policy objectives
• The Case for Change report was completed in August 2024 and is available on SPT’s Clyde Metro microsite under the Key Documents section. The microsite also provides project updates and contact details for the project team.

• A draft Network Options Report, the development of which involved two meetings with officers of each of the eight local authorities as well as meetings with other key stakeholders such as Network Rail and bus operators, was presented to the Clyde Metro Programme Steering Group (PSG) in December 2024. The PSG is the main decision-making group for the Clyde Metro CFI stage and comprises of the Chief Executives of the key partner organisations: SPT, Glasgow City Council and Transport Scotland. This tri-partite leadership is intended to ensure that local, regional and national interests are all represented. Approval was granted by PSG to start a period of stakeholder engagement during December 2024-February 2025
• The Network Options Report is a key step in the CFI process, building on the Case for Change to define key transport corridors and potential network configurations. It aims to improve connectivity, integration and accessibility across the Glasgow City Region while aligning with the Vision and Transport Objectives. It should be noted that the definition of detailed routes and alignments, including proposals for stop locations, will be developed later as part of CFI Stage 2
• There was ongoing engagement during the preparation of the report with senior officers from East Dunbartonshire Council through the Clyde Metro Senior Officers Group
• The formal engagement exercise approved by PSG in December 2024 focused on the Vision, Objectives and Network Options (“VOO”) that had been developed and this commenced in early 2025. It involved thirteen engagement sessions during January and February, including a session for Council Chief Executives and a session for Members of East and West Dunbartonshire Councils. Sessions were also held for MPs, MSPs, Community Planning Partnerships, and business stakeholders. Overall, the engagement involved 180 individuals
• Stakeholders broadly supported Clyde Metro. However, several key themes emerged during the engagement, including questions about how the evidence base had been prepared, the approach that would be taken to future intelligence gathering, the need for further work to be undertaken on network development and integration with other transport modes, funding and delivery mechanisms, the importance of public advocacy and stakeholder support, and the need for smart ticketing solutions. All the network options considered were for radial routes from central Glasgow and representatives of East Dunbartonshire Council were among those raising the need to also consider radial routes (for example linking Kirkintilloch/Bishopbriggs with Bearsden/Milngavie)
• The stakeholder feedback received has been provided to the consultants now appointed to carry out CFI Stage 2.  The Network Options Report and engagement findings are set out in full on SPT’s Clyde Metro microsite where future updates will also be published.
• The Network Options Report was approved at the March 2025 meeting of the Clyde Metro PSG. This concluded CFI Stage 1a and SPT have published a CFI Stage 1 Overview Communication Note summarising the outcomes of Stage 1 and providing an overview of what will be delivered in CFI Stage 2 and the timescales for delivery.

• The other aspect of Stage 1 (titled Stage 1b) involved the provision of guidance and advice to the Clyde Metro project team to help shape the delivery requirements for CFI Stage 2 and early preparation for future stages.   Consultants Turner & Townsend were appointed by SPT in May 2024 to provide this service.  This included organisational design, programme definition and requirements, and development of a long-term Communications and Advocacy Strategy
• The outputs from CFI Stage 1b, along with the recommendations from the CFI Stage 2 Readiness Review (see below) will now form a workstream to be progressed by the Clyde Metro project team.

• While CFI Stage 1 established the strategic need for Clyde Metro, Stage 2 will provide a rigorous, more detailed investigation, following principles and requirements set out by STAG and HM Treasury. CFI Stage 2 will run for two years and is comprised of several workstreams and inter-related tasks to support long term infrastructure planning and development, including:
  
  • Detailed scheme and technical appraisal
  • Development of a Programme Level Business Case 
  • Land Use and Housing Assessments
  • Engineering Feasibility
  • Impact Assessments, including Equality Impact Assessment, Health Impact Assessment, Child Rights & Wellbeing Impact Assessment, Fairer Scotland Duty Impact Assessment, and Business & Regulatory Impact Assessment
  • Approaches to Governance
  • Financing
  • Technology
  • Transformation Strategy and Action Plan
• To ensure a strong foundation for CFI Stage 2, a Readiness Review was conducted between January and March 2025. This review assessed the readiness of CFI partners and Glasgow City Region (GCR) teams for the next phase of delivery.   This built on lessons learned from CFI Stage 1 and ongoing risk management; incorporated recommendations from the Hardie Review (Edinburgh Trams Inquiry), particularly regarding governance and reporting structures; and confirmed significant progress in project setup and monitoring, providing confidence in the methodology adopted
• The Readiness Review findings were presented to the PSG in March 2025 as part of the approval process for CFI Stage 2. Actions arising from the review, alongside those from CFI Stage 1b, will be progressed by the project team.

Preparations for delivery of CFI Stage 2 have progressed in parallel and at pace over the past six months.  Detailed scopes have been developed and procured for five workstreams, with a further three workstreams set to undergo the same process in line with the programme requirements.  A summary is provided below:

• Programme Management activities have commenced for the five workstreams marked with a *. These activities are supported by wider oversight from the Project Management Team and existing governance arrangements
• Early deliverables are set to be complete in late spring / early summer. This will signal the beginning of approximately seventy outputs across the CFI Stage 2 workstreams, which are set to be delivered over the next two years. The overall CFI remains on target to be complete by early 2027. Initial key deliverables include:
  
  • Vision, Objectives and Options Technical Note – Mid-May 2025
  • Governance Report – Mid-July 2025
  • Preliminary Options Appraisal Report – Early September 2025
  • Delivery Mechanisms Report – Mid-September 2025
  • Strategic Case – Late November 2025
• The Clyde Metro programme is being progressed in co-ordination with wider workstreams including the Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy (SRBS).

• SPT developed a Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation Strategy to guide engagement during CFI Stage 1. This strategy is now being updated for CFI Stage 2 and will be presented to the Clyde Metro Programme Steering Group (PSG) in June 2025
• Engagement will mainly focus on technical experts and statutory stakeholders structured around specific ‘engagement windows’. However, it is proposed that consultation on the STAG fundings will include public consultation and this is planned for spring / summer 2026. The strategy will also include wider communications and advocacy for Clyde Metro.
• Officer engagement will continue through the GCR Senior Officers Group and the specific issues raised by officers and Members of the Council will be pursued through that forum and other opportunities provided by stakeholder engagement and the broader consultation on the STAG findings. There will be a particular focus on advocating for the maximisation of benefits for communities in East Dunbartonshire, considering options to secure connectivity improvements to support economic development and access to employment, and continuing to pursue the points raised during the consultation at Stage 1a
• Further updates will be provided as CFI Stage 2 progresses
• For further information please contact Niall.Urquhart@eastdunbarton.gov.uk