The University is bringing the showpiece new campus to the community and hopes to start work within two years.

Now just weeks after the development was announced the University, along with housing associations Linthouse, Govan and Elderpark, have agreed to work together to help bring opportunity to the community.

The housing associations have pledged to help the university with “vital local knowledge” as it prepares to construct the new Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus (CWIC).

The meeting involved the organisations’ three chief executives – Irene Campbell of Linthouse, Fiona McTaggart of Govan and Gary Dalziel of Elderpark.

Gary said: “We are impressed by the willingness of the University of Glasgow to engage with us so quickly. The three housing associations play a strong role within the community and our knowledge and engagement within the local area can be invaluable to the university as we work together to regenerate Govan.

“We are keen to support the University of Glasgow in whatever way we can - not only to deliver academic excellence but learning opportunities for the people we serve as housing associations.

“We look forward to the day when Govan becomes the latest campus for the University.”

Irene said: “Linthouse’s Committee are delighted by the University of Glasgow’s ambitious plans to build its first campus in Glasgow outside the west end since 1870 here on our doorstep. Our Committee are excited by the role the arrival of such a prestigious Scottish learning and research institution will play in regenerating and revitalising our area.

“The site earmarked for development is close to the former Alexander Stephens and Sons Shipbuilder who arrived here in Linthouse in 1870 and were a market leaders in shipbuilding until the closure of the yard in 1982.

“The University’s campus will open up the waterfront and put the Clyde at the forefront of 21st Century innovation and entrepreneurship. We are committed to working with the University and holding further discussion on how we can help secure this unique development for Govan and to ensure our local communities, particularly our young people, can benefit from the arrival of the new campus.”

Fiona added: “Govan Housing Association are delighted that Glasgow University has chosen Govan as the destination for their local campus.

“We are excited to work with the University to ensure that the aspirations of Govan people are reached and that the local campus will provide opportunities for local people.  We hope that the local campus will help to alleviate the view that ‘university is not for me’ and that Govan residents will take up chances open to them as part of the University’s work within the community.

“We are looking forward to working with the University to open up prospects for Central Govan and to reach real regeneration goals within the community.”

The site for the new campus is currently a disused car park at the southern end of the Clyde tunnel near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

With financial commitments of £28 million from the University, and £27.5m from the Glasgow City Region City Deal, plans for the new campus are already well under way.

The University said the campus will “provide a major boost” to Govan bringing in high quality jobs.

At their meeting the three housing associations told the University that there is an expectation from Govan residents that they would see real benefits from the delivery of a new campus - something the University of Glasgow is committed to. 

The community has already been told that the University will create ‘Invention Rooms’ for use by local school pupils and young people. They are described as “shared, interactive spaces” to allow for collaboration between the University, the local community and industrial partners.

Crucially, they are designed to inspire a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among local residents.

Principal of the University of Glasgow, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, said: “We are the early stages of planning for our new Govan campus, but a core part of our ambition is to work with the community to ensure there are opportunities both in new jobs but also in providing routes for young people into University. The Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus in Govan has the potential to make Glasgow a world power house in new industries like quantum technology, nanofabrication and precision medicine.”