City Systems- Full Report

EC937 FULL REPORT GORDON BEST
EC937 City Systems and Infrastructure
Gordon Best 201109204
Brief
A high value, light manufacturing company has identified the city of Glasgow as a potential
site for a new European regional headquarters. The site accommodates 500 workers in the
design, manufacture, and administration roles of development, as well as legal and financial
departments. A skilled workforce is required, with technicians and professional engineers
needed to ensure an efficient and high quality manufacturing process. The regional
headquarters will also be visited by staff from the Corporate Headquarters located in
Canada.
Full Individual Project Report
Contents
1.1 Executive Summary.............................................................................................................2
2.1 City Functionality ................................................................................................................2
2.1.1 City Background .......................................................................................................2
2.1.2 Transport Infrastructure ............................................................................................2
2.1.3 Energy Infrastructure ................................................................................................4
2.1.4 Water & Wastewater Infrastructure..........................................................................6
2.1.5 Digital Infrastructure.................................................................................................6
2.1.6 Additional Information .............................................................................................7
2.2 City Functionality Conclusions....................................................................................7
3.1 Quality of Life......................................................................................................................8
3.1.1 City Background .......................................................................................................8
3.1.2 Transport Infrastructure ............................................................................................9
3.1.3 Energy Infrastructure ................................................................................................9
3.1.4 Water & Wastewater Infrastructure........................................................................10
3.1.5 Digital Infrastructure...............................................................................................10
3.1.6 Additional Information ...........................................................................................10
3.2 Quality of Life Conclusions.......................................................................................11
4.1 Overall Recommendations.................................................................................................12
5.1 References..........................................................................................................................13

1.1 Executive Summary
To investigate the potential for Glasgow to accommodate the regional headquarters, this
report will analyse the factors required to achieve the aims of the headquarters.
Firstly, it will examine the ability of Glasgow’s existing, and planned, systems and
infrastructure to support a high level of City Functionality, focussing specifically on the
city’s:
 Transport links
 Energy Infrastructure
 Water & Wastewater Infrastructure
 Digital Infrastructure
It will then look into additional information which may be relevant to the company’s decision
in terms of overall functionality. Conclusions will then be made as to the viability of the city
to provide the level of functionality requested by the report’s brief.
Secondly, the report will analyse how these infrastructure systems will support a good quality
of life for the company’s proposed workforce. It will look into factors of accessibility, long
term sustainability and general resilience of the systems. The report will review the success
of the infrastructure to provide a high Quality Of Life, both in the existing and proposed
developments of Glasgow.
Finally, the report will give its recommendation for the company; analysing the feasibility of
Glasgow to accomplish the goals of providing both a functional system of infrastructures and
a high quality of life for the workforce.
2.1 City Functionality
2.1.1 City Background
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, with a population of 592,820 at the 2011 National
Census, with 67% at working age (16-65). It has a notable industrial past, which generated a
significant part of the city’s wealth, and now attracts over 2000 companies from abroad, such
as Rolls Royce and Doosan Babcock, with turnover in excess of £100 billion (Invest
Glasgow, 2015). This can be partially attributed to Glasgow being part of the Eurocities
network of major European cities, promoting commercial cooperation and trade. The city is
in the top twenty financial centres in Europe (Glasgow City Council, 2014), leading to
additional investment in the city systems which attract business, promoting further growth.
2.1.2 Transport Infrastructure
Glasgow has a classical city layout, with a central business district surrounded by inner city
in a grid plan, with extensive suburban commuter zones. The city is densely populated, with
8,790 people/mile2,
the 5th
highest in the UK. (National Census, 2011) It has an extensive
infrastructure system, with three international airports within an hour’s drive, one of which,
Prestwick Airport, provides global freight links via some of the world’s largest cargo
transporters, including CargoLux, which operate on every continent. Glasgow Airport has

regular links with three major airport hubs, Amsterdam, London Heathrow and Dubai, as well
as ninety other major airports, including several in Canada, offering effective access for
company staff. Furthermore, Glasgow possesses significant rail resources. For example,
Mossend Rail Freight Park, which provides frequent cargo links with mainland Europe.
Glasgow also has the UK’s largest suburban railway network outside of London.
Additionally, there are extensive shipping links at the nearby Greenock Terminal, where
arrivals relating to the materials required for light industry, for example electronic
components, arrive each day (Clyde Maritime, 2015). The Greenock Terminal recently linked
with the deep water ports in Liverpool and Rotterdam, hugely boosting the export capacity of
the city, and drastically reducing export costs to other UK cities, North America, and Europe
(Scotsman, 2015).
A subway system, frequent commuter bus services, and a comprehensive road network,
ensure a high level of universal accessibility and connectivity for businesses, and employees,
in the city. To demonstrate this, Glasgow was awarded the title of 18th
highest scoring city in
Europe (out of over five hundred) for transport links (BASE City, 2015).
Furthermore, the staging of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow led to significant
infrastructure redevelopment plans. These plans included the £692million completion of the
M74 extension, multiple minor projects in the city centre, and 50km of further electrification
in the city’s railway lines.
However, with expected increases in car ownership levels, it is projected that by 2022,
between 8% and 11% of the city’s road network will be operating at, or over, capacity.
(Transport Scotland)
Future infrastructure plans to maintain and improve transport capacity include improvements
to the M8 motorway to Edinburgh, and the development of a high speed line, linking
Glasgow to other proposed high speed rail projects in the South of England, although this
vision may be aspirational, since the current project team suggest there is no business case to
extend the project into Scotland, despite Scottish Government objections. Proposals have
been approved to extend the existing Mossend Rail Freight Terminal, renaming to the
Mossend International Freight Park, increasing the city’s UK and European freight capacity
by 66%. (MIRP, 2015) In addition to future developments, the transport sector remains
committed to reducing carbon emissions, reducing these by 15% from 2007/09 (Transport
Scotland), and aiming to reduce this further by introducing electric vehicle charging points,
and by encouraging cycling and walking as viable modes of transport within the city.
These plans will lead to further expansion of the commuting range of the city and improved
transport links with surrounding areas and further afield, resulting in economic growth for the
city’s economy, and for the populace. Moreover, the plans look to create a sustainable model
for the city’s infrastructure, considering and mitigating the environmental and social impact
of proposed projects, leading to further improvements in the quality of life for the company’s
workforce in the city.
However, there have been comments from local groups, for example the Task Force on Low
Carbon Infrastructure, as well as a director of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE),
claiming that Scotland, and Glasgow in particular, is spending too much on projects which
continue to increase public energy use, for example the traffic on new road developments.
Instead of continuing to invest in large infrastructure projects, they suggest that improving

travel efficiency and public travel habits should be prioritised to lessen the carbon footprint of
the city. In other similar countries, 72% of infrastructure spending is specifically targeted to
reduce carbon emissions, however the Scottish equivalent is only 52% (BBC News, 2015).
This statistic indicates there seems to be a reactive focus to reducing emission levels after
release rather than a proactive solution to prevent the severity of carbon emissions in the first
place.
Several independent organisations have put forward their suggestions to help further improve
the city’s poor air quality. Soot Free Glasgow worked alongside the Glasgow Transport
Strategy team to conduct feasibility studies regarding a low emissions zone in the city, also
known as a LEZ. This zone would help to reduce the number of “dirty vehicles” in operation
in the city centre, particularly relating to buses, where privately owned companies would
have to update their fleet to come into line with new emissions standards. This zone
development could potentially link in with the plans to develop the city’s electric vehicle
facilities, where low emission travel by car could be achieved.
2.1.3 Energy Infrastructure
Besides the setup of the city’s transport infrastructure, there are other advanced systems in
place to benefit business and to ensure high quality of life for the local population. The
energy grid is efficient, resilient, and comprehensive, as demonstrated by the selection of the
city by the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities, which noted energy efficiency and
emission reductions in Glasgow as key commitments to resiliency (RC100, 2015).
The city’s energy infrastructure has provided 11-13,000GWh per year since 2006 (DECC),
with sustainability measures in place to ensure Glasgow continues to supply the population in
addition to reducing its carbon footprint by 30% by 2020 from 2006 levels. (OPEN Glasgow,
2015)
The city is ranked the 9th
lowest in the UK regarding the average amount of electricity
consumed per capita annually, but 47th
for average amount of gas used per year (British Gas).
The city attributes 48% of energy consumption to natural gas, mostly for heating purposes,
and transported using the national gas grid to reach domestic and non-domestic properties.
25% of the energy consumption can be attributed to electricity taken from the national
electricity grid, and 27% from petrol based energy sources. The main consumers of the
energy in the city are in the industrial sector, utilising 40% of the city’s supply, with
domestic/residential and transport based sectors at 35% and 25% usage respectively. (Energy
and Carbon Masterplan, 2013)
The city is equipped with a variety of sites able to accommodate the 2 Bar medium pressure
natural gas systems potentially required to fuel some light industry equipment, and an
extensive infrastructure to manage the varying degree of pressures required to transport this
natural gas through high pressure transmission lines to the low pressure requirements of
residential zones, and the medium pressure supplies of commercial and industrial zones.
In order to reduce the dependency on fossil fuel based fuel sources, and to mitigate harmful
emission levels, steps have been taken to encourage the use of renewable energy sources, and
to take a more responsible approach to the carbon footprint of the city. In 2006, the city
released over four million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through industrial

and transport use, affecting the health and wellbeing of the population. By 2012, this had
been reduced to just over 3.5 million tonnes, a 13% reduction in the carbon emissions in just
six years. This improvement was partly accomplished by tackling transport and congestion
problems, but mostly by ensuring domestic and non-domestic properties, where 77% of
carbon emissions were sourced (Energy and Carbon Masterplan, 2013), were more suitably
built and managed.
The city’s new energy policy for developments requires buildings to be designed with solar
energy potential in mind, to maximise the potential for energy gathering. (DES 1:
Development Design Principles, DES 2: Sustainable Design and Construction and RES 2:
Residential Layouts). In addition, the policy necessitates that companies explore the
possibility of installing equipment to utilise the energy gathered from solar power to heat the
property. The new policy requires that larger properties of over 500m2
adopt the Scottish
Planning Policy Plan to install zero/low carbon equipment to further reduce their carbon
emissions.
From an innovation standpoint, the Energy Trust was established in 2014 to develop new
solutions to handling energy demands while encouraging sustainable and responsible
emissions levels. Furthermore, the newly written Energy and Carbon Masterplan for
Glasgow will establish a framework to gradually develop Glasgow from its industrial past
into a low carbon city. A further 657,596 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions are required to
be reduced by the city in order to achieve the 30% reduction which was targeted in the E&C
Masterplan in 2006, but it is hoped that these new initiatives will help to find ways in which
to improve the emissions standards of domestic and non-domestic properties, and to improve
the quality of the city’s air.
Despite these initiatives clearly reducing the harmful emissions of the city, there is concern
from the Institution of Civil Engineers regarding government plans to close down 55% of
Scotland’s fossil fuel and nuclear electricity generating capacity. They feel that such changes
will lead to future reliability issues in the energy sector, where a dependency on renewable
energy sources may necessitate considerable electricity imports, instead of the current setup
to export the generated surplus (Telegraph.co.uk, October 2015).
The concern about renewable energy sources is primarily attributed to the low levels of
reliability in their energy generation systems. With such a consistently high public demand
for electricity and heating, the dramatic fluctuations in energy generation from sources such
as wind or solar power simply cannot facilitate the current needs of the public. This
observation can be demonstrated by the hourly operating power of the wind turbines at the
time of this report being 2.5MW (UK Energy Watch), less than a fifth of the hourly operating
potential of 13.4MW (Renewable Energy UK). The Adam Smith Institute published a report
suggesting it was totally unfeasible to replace the UK’s fossil fuel based fuel systems with the
current renewable alternatives, simply due to the unreliability of these systems. Instead, the
report suggested that reducing the emphasis on fossil fuels gradually would be a more
sustainable plan, allowing the reliability of the renewables sector to improve, resulting in a
more effective solution.
To reduce the emphasis on natural gas as a heating requirement; waste to energy and district
heating systems schemes are being proposed in parts of the city under the City Council’s
Local Development Plan. These district heating schemes replace several inefficient heating
systems with a singular, highly efficient natural gas powered heating component.

Furthermore, making improvements in the insulation of buildings will help to reduce the
energy requirements of properties, improving efficiencies, and decreasing the energy bills of
the population.
2.1.4 Water & Wastewater Infrastructure
Also in place are water and wastewater treatment systems, boasting considerable assets, with
a future commitment to making the most of Scotland’s “Hydro Nation” economic potential.
Scotland is fortunate to possess bountiful supplies of freshwater, mostly contained in
freshwater lakes in the highlands and central belt of the country. The main source of wealth
creation for countries with a surplus in the water supply lies in exports. As international
relations and trade links improve, thanks to events such as the HydroNation Forum, recently
hosted in neighbouring Edinburgh, it is increasingly likely that Scotland will seek to export
larger amounts of water (CL 946 Global Water Policy Report, 2015).
Scottish Water will work closely with the Scottish Government to forecast population growth
and increases in demand from the water infrastructure to ensure capacity remains controlled,
and a healthy surplus remains to allow these international exports to continue to provide
economic benefits.
With the strong economic backbone of these potential exports, Scottish Water committed to a
£2.5 billion investment strategy for the 2010-15 period (Scottish Water: Sustainable
Investment Plan, 2015), equivalent to £1million per day, to modernise essential components
of the water infrastructure, for example treatment works. This investment was also used to
develop new facilities, such as the Edinburgh Major Treatment Centre. Scottish Water
recently unveiled plans of a further £3.5 billion investment programme from 2015-21, where
the network will continue to develop. This proposed infrastructure programme will lead to a
comprehensive and effective water network, supporting an improvement in the quality of
health and general life quality for the company’s potential workforce.
The distribution for Scottish Water’s 13,000 non-domestic customers is handled by a
subsidiary company called Business Stream, handling a market with gross value in excess of
£330million (ScottishWater.com). In 2017, full competition will be introduced to the UK
non-domestic market, where business can select their water provider without geographical
restrictions. This introduction will result in a competitive market, leading to potential
company savings.
2.1.5 Digital Infrastructure
A comprehensive network infrastructure plays a large part in Glasgow’s business success,
with investments of over £50 billion, from BT’s £2.5billion venture in thirty UK cities,
permitting the creation of fast, free broadband access in the city, and initiatives such as the
Digital Glasgow Project ensuring further development in the city’s digital infrastructure.
Glasgow has fallen behind other cities in the UK for the release of the digital infrastructure in
recent years, mostly due to lack of private investment. However, by 2017, this initiative
hopes to lead Glasgow to becoming one of the world’s most successful “digital cities” by
taking advantage of affordable and effective new software systems, helping to deliver
comprehensive opportunities and advantages to the public, and to the city’s businesses.

Glasgow has begun a £24 million programme named the Future Cities Demonstrator which
looks to implement technology to improve the efficiency and safety of the city. This system
will utilise over two hundred data items in various strategic locations to gather information,
for example, commercial footfalls or street light usage. This general data can be accessed
online, after processing and release, by businesses, local people and the city council to
improve efficiencies and general city life. There is potential for this system to monitor
company energy usage, the footfall of the product’s eventual store, and other relevant data,
allowing the regional headquarters to better understand its operation, and perhaps improve
efficiency.
2.1.6 Additional Information
As well as the comprehensive and advanced infrastructures in place, the city of Glasgow has
extensive academic links, with five higher education institutes providing approximately
20,000 graduates per year (Invest Glasgow, 2012). Those graduates offer a future workforce,
providing a wide range of valuable skills to businesses. In addition to providing a skilled
workforce, these institutions work closely with business in pioneering research studies, and
problem solving. The high quality of academic organisations in the city generate a large
proportion of the city’s wealth, with over £1.3 billion contributed to the economy in 2011
(Invest Glasgow, 2015).
To incentivise companies to locate in Glasgow, there is a vast array of tax assistance, venture
capital and funding schemes, for example the “SMART: Scotland” grant. Moreover, a number
of sites have been granted “Enterprise Area” status, which offers significantly discounted
business rates and assistance in recruitment or in general business development.
The result of these incentives is a large light industry sector in the city, demonstrating
potential for working links and synergy, where ideas, information and materials can be shared
to maximise efficiency and profits for the company.
2.2 City Functionality Conclusions
To conclude, Glasgow possesses all of the requirements for a functional regional
headquarters with no major gaps in provisions. The population levels and city layout make
for a significant potential market and workforce, all of which can be accessed using the
extensive Transport Infrastructure system. The existing transport network provides a wide
variety of methods for the workforce of the business to travel to the selected business
location, and an effective system for raw materials, personnel and products to link with the
wider international community.
Although observations have been made regarding potential future capacity issues within the
network, adequate solutions are being developed to increase this capacity, and to ensure the
efficiency of the network remains sustainable.
In addition to the transport links, the Energy Infrastructure utilises a reliable form of fuel to
support the population’s electricity and heating needs. The city has a multitude of locations
where light industry can achieve the required pressure of gas supply for function, and a
reliable transmission system to ensure consistent delivery.

Steps are being taken by the city to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the city, so to
ensure approval from the city council, the development of the site should be completed in
cooperation with local council developers to ensure all energy standards relating to energy
efficiency and emissions are met.
The Water & Wastewater Infrastructure is comprehensive and extensive following major
investment programmes from the nation’s supplier, Scottish Water. The company delivers a
high standard product from freshwater sources to the residential and non-domestic customers,
whilst maintaining a message of responsible economic utilisation of the water resource
through renewable energy systems and exports.
The investments in the Network Infrastructure highlights the city’s commitment to develop
business links, and to ensure growth continues for all companies choosing to locate there. By
2017, the city seeks to be a world leader in digital city systems, with a variety of advanced
digital systems in place to monitor the efficiency of a variety of sectors in the city. With this
level of development, the company can seek to improve its own efficiency, most likely in
energy, for the location determined to situate.
The high standard and volume of graduates from the local higher institutes of education fulfil
the requirement to employ a highly skilled and technical workforce, and indicates potential
for links to cooperate in research. The business incentives highlight an opportunity to locate
for tremendous value if grants and tax assistance can be agreed upon with the local
government.
3.1 Quality of Life
3.1.1 City Background
Glasgow is developing a global reputation as a city with a high standard of living. In
Mercer’s 2015 Quality of Living Rankings, Glasgow was 55th
in global life quality, beating
much larger and richer cities, such as Dubai and Philadelphia. Factors such as infrastructure
quality, cost of living, and health were studied to produce the results, awarding Glasgow 3rd
place in the UK, behind only London and Birmingham.
Looking specifically at the quality of Glasgow’s infrastructure and city systems, the
workforce of the company could expect a high level of functionality and life quality.
It is widely accepted by city planners and politicians that a reliable and robust infrastructure
is paramount for a high quality of living. Audit firm Ernst & Young note that wise strategic
investment in infrastructure can improve a variety of social, economic and environmental
factors, where employment levels increase, and other life quality indicators are consequences
of this investment.

3.1.2 Transport Infrastructure
For the proposed workforce of the company, the highly developed and globally recognised
city transport links will provide a high quality of life. Easy and quick access to work will
increase life satisfaction, thanks to reduced stress levels during commutes and general travel.
Furthermore, quick road links to Glasgow’s extensive leisure, commercial and healthcare
facilities via public and privately owned transport will support a more pleasant lifestyle. The
proposed developments, such as the M8 update, and the suburban/cargo rail links, will ensure
that the working capacity of the transport infrastructure remains controlled and sustainable,
where network shockwaves such as travel disruptions in major trunk roads have a lessened
impact on the entire network, demonstrating robustness and resiliency.
Wider transport links, such as the railway stations and airports, support global accessibility,
which Research Gate links with a high level of life quality, where there are no limits to
potential travel destinations. This link will allow ease of travel to loved ones in other
countries, and provide access to other global travel factors. (Researchgate.net)
The link between reduced use of transport to improve air quality, and general healthy living
will have a positive effect of the quality of life of the population. With reduced carbon
emissions, the overall health of the public is likely to improve into the future. Furthermore,
the improved accessibility to environmentally friendly travel routes, like cycle paths, will
lead to a healthier lifestyle for the population, increasing life expectancy and overall life
satisfaction for the proposed workforce of the company.
3.1.3 Energy Infrastructure
The energy grid of the city comprehensively supports the population’s heating and general
electricity requirements, at a domestic and non-domestic level, utilising currently reliable
natural gas fuel sources. As mentioned in the functionality study, plans are in place to reduce
the dependency on the fossil fuel sector, so these plans should be strictly monitored to
evaluate the potential impact on the quality of life for the company’s workforce.
Sustainability plans are in place to ensure the carbon emissions of the city are decreased, thus
improving air quality, and the general health of the populace.
Despite these improvements, Glasgow still has some of the highest levels of air pollution, and
worst general health in the UK, with 305 deaths per year in the city attributed to poor air
quality (FOE Scotland, 2014). This damage is most likely due to the dangerous levels of
Nitrogen Dioxide in the city’s air. Glasgow is one of sixteen cities in Europe to breach the
safety standards set by the European health laws. It should be noted by the company that
although levels are being reduced significantly, the city centre is unlikely to be free of air
quality related problems until 2025, a full fifteen years after these levels were targeted to be
met. (FOE Scotland, 2014)

3.1.4 Water & Wastewater Infrastructure
The public benefits to an extensive and comprehensive water & wastewater infrastructure are
evident. With the substantial assets owned by Scottish Water, the citizens of Glasgow will
continue to access a high quality, and reliable, source of drinking water, supporting a high
standard of health, and a good life quality.
In addition to the direct benefits, indirect benefits can be derived from the water resources
through responsibly utilising these for economic gain. This economic gain can be gathered
through using renewable sources of energy, or by exporting the water resource
internationally. Through this economic gain, further investments can be made into the
existing city systems, and into new developments to ensure the economy of the city, and the
standard of living, continue to improve.
3.1.5 Digital Infrastructure
The increased network capabilities in the city have resulted in significant improvements in
life quality for the populace. The benefits realised from internet accessibility can be found in
educational, financial, social and cultural aspects. With access to extensive information and
comprehensive utilities, for example maps, the company’s workforce can expect to learn
more, and be more connected than a city with a less developed network infrastructure.
Glasgow’s plans to develop into a global leader in digital system links will lead to a much
more efficient and effective city network, where all sectors of infrastructure work in unison to
achieve optimum safety and benefits for the population. By monitoring the proficiency of the
transport, water and energy infrastructures, data can be collected to develop viable solutions
to existing problems, and to configure innovative new systems, further improving the lifestyle
of the city’s people.
3.1.6 Additional Information
In addition to infrastructure, the city boasts a variety of academic and commercial
opportunities which benefit the population and lead to a high standard of living. Having
academic institutions with such excellent reputations in the city increases the standard of
education in the city, developing a more skilled and versatile workforce. With such a capable
workforce, businesses are attracted to locate in the city to develop links with the graduate
pool.
In recent years, the city has undergone a considerable level of urban regeneration, partly in
preparation for hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. This change is most notable along
the banks of the River Clyde, where the twelve year Clyde Waterfront Regeneration Plan has
transformed the rundown, brownfield remnants of Glasgow’s shipbuilding past to a vibrant
and dynamic area of business and cultural attractions, for example the International
Financial Services District (IFSD), and BBC Scotland headquarters.

The effective transport links allow access to the extensive cultural highlights in the city, for
example newly constructed museums and concert venues. Furthermore, the efficient
motorway system allows for quick access to the countryside, where National Parks and other
“urban escape” areas can be found.
The above justification for business will have a tremendous effect on the local population,
where employment rates will increase due to increased business attraction to the city. The rise
in employment will lead to a boost in the economy of the area, resulting in further investment
in the city systems which attract businesses and improve local quality of life initially,
sparking a cycle of growth and prosperity for the city of Glasgow.
With these incentives to locate business in Glasgow, the local community will see a
significant growth in employment rates. This growth can be attributed both to new businesses
opening, but also to indirect job creations as effects of an improved economy, leading to
further positive growth in the economy, and an enhanced life quality.
3.2 Quality of Life Conclusions
The existing infrastructure systems support a high standard of living for the population of the
city.
Comprehensive local and global transport links support useful levels of accessibility to
attractions in the city and beyond, a key factor of life quality, in addition to encouraging
healthy modes of travel to support a higher standard of lifestyle and general health. Although
air quality standards are low in comparison to other UK cities, steps are being taken to ensure
that continual improvements are made to reduce the level of harmful emissions. Proposed
infrastructure developments ensure that capacity will remain consistent, or even improve in
the future, providing links to opportunities for working, commercial and leisure based
activities.
The energy infrastructure is comprehensive and robust, ensuring that the population
consistently receives the electricity and heating needs from a reliable, although not
sustainable, natural gas supply. Glasgow suffers from low standards of air quality from high
levels of carbon emissions, but plans are in place to lessen its dependency on fossil fuels,
meaning improvements for the city’s air supply due to reductions in carbon emissions,
although the reliability of the fuel source under renewable systems may require further study.
The water & wastewater systems provide high standards of supply to the city’s population,
bringing with it a vast array of health and lifestyle benefits. In addition to these benefits, the
country is deriving economic benefits from the utilisation of the water resource.
With improvements being continuously made to the city’s network infrastructure, Glasgow’s
population are becoming more connected than ever before. The benefits resultant from
internet accessibility are plentiful, improving the educational, social and cultural aspects of
the population’s daily lives. The development of the digital city vision will help to improve
the efficiency of the city, benefitting the populace with improved public facility and general
city experience.
The academic links within the city permit the opportunity of further learning and career
progression, likely to result in higher incomes and improved general life satisfaction.

4.1 Overall Recommendations
This report recommends that Glasgow would make a highly suitable city to locate the
regional headquarters. The existing infrastructure systems would be effective in delivering a
high level of functionality for the company, and proposed developments would allow the
capacity of this infrastructure to continue. There are no evident gaps in the transport, energy,
water and network infrastructure provisions, demonstrating a robust and resilient city setup.
Regarding the quality of life for the company’s workforce, Glasgow’s comprehensive and
extensive infrastructure systems make for a high standard of living. Although standards in the
general health of the population have been affected by poor air quality, significant steps are
being taken to ensure this problem is resolved.
Therefore, Glasgow meets the two requirements of the proposed regional headquarters, both
in providing a platform for a high level of functionality for light industry, with sustainable
infrastructure, and providing a city where the company’s work force can enjoy a high quality
of life.
5000 words

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