Bosses warn they will struggle to be eco-friendly after Glasgow's failed freeport bid

Trade bosses across Glasgow and the West are claiming they have been overlooked after the city lost a bid for green freeport status to the Cromarty Firth and Edinburgh.

Companies which invest in the special economic zones are offered tax reliefs for investing in low carbon infrastructure.

Plea for tax reliefs for firms investing in low carbon infrastructure

Director of Mossend International Railfreight Park, Andrew Stirling, told Clyde 1: "We should still be entitled to some of the perks awarded to the freeports to create new jobs to tackle unemployment in this part of the country.

"If we didn't have to pay National Insurance, had access to very cheap capital and didn't have corporation tax then that would cover around 40% of our operating costs.

"One of the companies considering coming to Glasgow was also going to have to pay £7.5 million in stamp duty.

"In a freeport zone, that is picked up by the Westminster Government."

Businesses in the special economic zones are also subject to fewer checks and less paperwork for using low carbon methods of importing and exporting goods.

Joint approach by the public and private sector

Ross Nimmo from Glasgow International Airport worked with bosses at Glasgow City Council on the bid.

He said: "Around a quarter of Scotland's exports by value are transported through the airport and some of the projects within the freeport bid allowed us to increase the carbon reduction infrastructure measures.

"Not having this title makes that more challenging and we will have to work with both governments to see if they can be achieved by other means."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish and UK Governments will work with the unsuccessful bidders to consider how they can build on the plans set out in their bids to deliver jobs and growth in their regions outside the Green Freeports programme.

“We are already investing significantly in the Clyde, and will continue to do so. This includes the Scottish Government’s commitment of £500 million to the Glasgow City Region City Deal Infrastructure Investment Fund, matching the investment made by the UK Government. The Deal empowers Glasgow and its City Region partners to identify, manage and deliver a programme of investment to stimulate economic growth and create jobs in their area.

“More information on the assessment and selection process will be published in due course.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: "The successful bids were selected jointly by the two governments in line with the robust process and criteria set out in the Green Freeports prospectus.

"A decision note outlining the assessment process and outcome will be published in due course."

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