Green in Govan: South Clyde Energy Centre, Govan Graving Docks

Newsletter #25 - This week, I've visited the South Clyde Energy Centre and I have an update on the planning permission for the Govan Graving Docks

Apr 03, 2025

South Clyde Energy Centre

Have you seen that massive concrete structure to the south of the M8 between the Clyde Tunnel and Braehead junctions and wondered what it is? Well I went along on Tuesday for a tour to find out for you.

So the South Clyde Energy Centre is a project between Fortum and Gren, Finnish and Estonian companies respectively who specialise in sustainable and clean energy production and are building this site as a waste-to-energy site. What that means is instead of waste going to landfill, it will be directed to this site where it will be burnt for steam which operates a turbine. This turbine in turn is designed to produce electricity for 70,000 homes.

The site has planning permission and SEPA licences already established and I’m told that the only waste product is ash which is taken away by road. The whole process is expected to export 44MW to the grid when it’s operational next year.

So far I’ve had no complaints from neighbours about the site and no complaints from anyone concerned about the operation of the plant but I’ve joined their local liaison group which meets regularly so that I’m in place if anything crops up. I am not an expert in power plants by any stretch of the imagination so if you want to tell me your views - my door is very much open!

Dan on-site at the South Clyde Energy Centre

Govan Graving Docks

For better or for worse - the planning process for the proposal to build flats at the Govan Graving Docks has now been approved. The site had been empty since it’s industrial use ended about 40 years ago. There’s been quite a few different ideas about the site but this plan is the one that has been approved. (Well mostly approved, the park works are still waiting sign off but the homes are approved).

The proposals received a really heavy level of representation from both those in favour and from those opposed which is why I think it’s been given 60 separate conditions to adhere to. If you want to read the whole 51 page report - you can access it here. I also put a letter of representation in at the time (which you can read here) and there’s a few elements I’m still seeking clarification on following this decision but I wanted people to know that and decision has finally been reached.

Once again - I’m very open to hearing views on this development so feel free to share all of your thoughts!

Govan Graving Docks looking from the Glasgow Science Centre

Surgeries

I run advice and support surgeries 3 times a month, you don’t need an appointment, just turn up! Next dates are:

Tuesday 8th April - 4pm - Maslow’s Community Hub, Shaw Street
Thursday 17th April - 5pm - Kinning Park Complex, Cornwall Street
Friday 25th April - 11am - Clyde Community Hall, Whitefield Road

Upcoming Community Councils

Govan - Pearce Institute - 7th April - 7pm
Govan East - Riverside Hall - 15th April - 6pm
Kinning Park - Kinning Park Complex - 21st April - 7pm
Drumoyne - Govan High - 24th April - 7pm
Ibrox and Cessnock - Clyde Community Hall - 21st May - 7pm

These are all public meetings so you can just turn up at your relevant one. They’d all be very happy for someone new to join in! I’m aim to attend at many of them as possible so hopefully see you there!

Next Newsletter

So the council goes into recess for a week next week which will be really quiet but before that we have a 6 hour meeting with all 85 councillors today which will have lots and lots to tell you about to next week’s newsletter will be focussed on the outcome of that!