Braehead already attracts 20 million visitors a year, but this will be significantly boosted by a giant Xscape leisure complex, the third in the UK, which will house an indoor ski-slope, climbing walls, bowling alleys, multiplex cinema, games arena, cafes and restaurants under one roof. The attraction, due to open in February 2006, will employ around 900 full-time and part-time staff.

"There is nothing on this scale in Scotland," says Richard Cable at Capital Shopping Centres. "It has taken years of negotiation with land owners and planners to get to this point. We are talking about creating a whole new community. It has to be done properly, so people enjoy living there and it is an attractive proposition for families."

A new public private partnership has been launched to take the project forward. The partners are Renfrewshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire, Capital Shopping Centres and developers Park Lane and Clydeport. Capital has appointed Wimpey Homes to build the first 385 homes next to the new public park. Future developers will be approached later this year. Parklane Developments and the McFarlane Group will begin work on the remainder of the new homes from the end of 2005 onward.

"'Renfrew Riverside is a priority area and this is a flagship project that will bring substantial economic benefits to Renfrew and to Scotland," says Jim McIntyre, of Scottish Enterprise.