Rutherglen and Shawfield

Rutherglen is Scotland's oldest Royal Burgh. Its status was conferred in 1126 - many years before Glasgow was  founded.  For many centuries it was the chief trading town and commercial centre on the lower part of the Clyde, a situation that changed only in the 1700s as the city expanded and eventually outgrew its neighbour.

During the 19th century Rutherglen changed from a weaving and mining village to a more industrialised area. It had its own shipyard, established in 1856, which became famous for building and launching many of the paddle steamers and ferry boats which transported commuters on the Clyde.  The Burgh's wealth at this time is evident from the grandeur of its historic Town Hall, constructed in 1862 , and complete with 110-foot tall tower.

Other industries established in Rutherglen included coal mining, potteries and ropeworks; but the largest and most famous plant was found in Shawfield,  which is a district of the Burgh.   J&J White’s Chemical Works operated from 1820 to 1967; and, at its  peak, produced more than 70 per cent of the UK’s chromate products.

In common with Glasgow, much of Rutherglen's economy was damaged by heavy industry's rapid decline. The Burgh remains the home to 25,000 people, many of whom make the 10-minute commute to work in Glasgow.

Rutherglen Station is our biggest physical improvement so far, where the work complements South Lanarkshire Council's extensive investment in Rutherglen Town Centre perfectly.  

The Red Tree Business Suites, on Rutherglen's Stonelaw Road, is a Clyde Gateway development targeted at small and medium-sized businesses. It offers the opportunity to locate and grow in a high-quality, affordable and flexible office space. 

The Cuningar Loop is situated at a distinctive bend in the river within South Lanarkshire close to the centre of Rutherglen, and directly across the Clyde from Dalmarnock, where the 2014 Athletes' Village is being built.  We are working with the Forestry Commission Scotland to investigate ways of opening-up the Loop as a managed woodland area to more people.

Much of our initial activity in Shawfield centred on the continued acquisition of land and buildings, particularly properties in Shawfield Industrial Estate, as well as making major remediation work investment to deal with the chromium contamination caused by the White's factory.

The biggest changes in Shawfield will emerge in the years ahead - thanks to its proximity to Junction 1a of the extended M74 -  and from our ability to make land available for its re-development as Scotland's National Business District.