GLASGOW’S City Deal is set to spend almost three quarters of a billion pounds in the next five years.

Projects already started will move forward as the bulk of the £1.1bn deal cash is spent.

The projects include the new bridge over the M8 connecting Sighthill and a new park in the area, an anti-flooding Smart Canal project at the Forth and Clyde Canal and work on the new manufacturing institute near Glasgow Airport are among the projects designed to improve communities and provide better access to jobs.

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So far sixteen projects have been completed by the eight City Deal member councils with more than £180 million spent.

Over the next five years the plans include more than 7,700 new homes built, 400 hectares of land redeveloped and more than 80 hectares of vacant land brought back into use.

Susan Aitken, Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet and Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “We are now delivering projects at pace and for place and our people. Communities are beginning to see the delivery of the Deal’s promise and that it is having a clear transformational effect.

“We look forward to the next five years where we can really build on the potential of the City Deal.”

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The partnership was the first in Scotland to benefit from City Deal funding from both the UK and Scottish Governments, with £500 million provided from each for infrastructure investment and the local authorities contributing a further £130 million.

The £1.13 billion infrastructure fund will deliver 21 projects focusing on improving connectivity and unlocking new sites across the region for commercial, housing and retail development.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, said: “The Glasgow City Region Deal has made great progress since 2014 with projects which are helping to create thousands of jobs, homes and opportunities that will improve people’s lives. “