Scottish Water Bioresource Centre and 45 Homes Approved in Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• A Glasgow City Council committee approved the disposal and negotiation of sites across Daldowie, Easterhouse and Ruchill on 5 November.
• Negotiations will commence with Scottish Water regarding the sale of an 11-hectare council-owned site in Daldowie for a proposed multi-million-pound Bioresource Treatment Centre.
• The proposed Daldowie facility will serve 40 per cent of Scotland’s population, converting waste into organic fertiliser and biomethane for the national grid.
• Existing tenants at the Daldowie site have been relocated, and a council training centre there will be vacated before any sale occurs.
• The council approved an excambion (land exchange) of 4.25 hectares in Easterhouse with Wheatley Homes, generating a £45,000 capital receipt for the council.
• Through the Easterhouse exchange, Wheatley Homes will build 45 social rent homes across two plots, while Glasgow City Council will acquire one plot to establish a water vole sanctuary.
• The committee also authorised negotiations for the disposal of a small piece of amenity ground at 9 Gorget Quadrant in Ruchill to Wheatley Homes.

Glasgow Council (Glasgow Express) November 12, 2026- A Glasgow City Council committee has approved the disposal and initiation of negotiations regarding land and sites across Daldowie, Easterhouse and Ruchill, paving the way for a state-of-the-art Scottish Water Bioresource Treatment Centre, 45 new homes for social rent and a dedicated water vole sanctuary.

What Did Glasgow City Council Officials Say About the Approvals?

In an official press release issued by Glasgow City Council, Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Depute Leader and Convener for Housing and Development at Glasgow City Council, stated:

“The approvals made today mean that the creation of a Bioresource Treatment Centre – which offers Glasgow a range of economic, environmental and social benefits – has moved a step closer. The approval of the land exchange in Easterhouse also means that 45 new homes will be built there, which is very welcome news for the area, as will be the creation of the water vole sanctuary, which will be yet another addition to the natural environment in this part of the city.”

How Will the Proposed Scottish Water Bioresource Treatment Centre in Daldowie Operate?

The committee granted authority to open negotiations with Scottish Water for the sale of land and buildings on an 11-hectare council-owned site in Daldowie. Scottish Water has identified this location as its preferred site for a new multi-million-pound Bioresource Treatment Centre.

Designed as a major upgrade to existing infrastructure, the facility aims to deliver environmental improvements, heightened operational efficiency and reduced running costs. Once operational, the site will serve as a critical component of Scottish Water’s national network, catering to 40 per cent of Scotland’s population.

What Environmental and Energy Benefits Will the Facility Provide?

The proposed treatment centre is engineered to process waste to a higher standard than current systems allow. This enhanced process will enable the treated material to be repurposed as organic fertiliser under licence, adhering to environmental best practices supported by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Additionally, the treatment process will generate biogas, which will be captured to produce heat and electricity to power the facility itself. Any surplus biogas produced can be upgraded into biomethane and exported directly to the national grid, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

What Will Happen to the Current Occupants and Buildings at Daldowie?

The 11-hectare site currently houses a council-operated training centre alongside two semi-detached residential properties. According to the council’s plans, the tenants residing in the two homes have already been successfully relocated to alternative housing. Furthermore, the training centre will be formally vacated prior to the completion of any sale to Scottish Water.

How Will the Land Exchange in Easterhouse Create New Homes and a Wildlife Sanctuary?

Alongside the Daldowie negotiations, the committee approved an excambion—a formal exchange of land—between Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Homes involving three plots at Lochend Road and Baldragon Road in Easterhouse.

Spanning a combined area of 4.25 hectares, the transaction divides the land to serve both housing and ecological purposes. Wheatley Homes will acquire two of the plots to construct 45 new homes designated for social rent. In exchange, Glasgow City Council will take ownership of the third plot to establish a water vole sanctuary. The excambion will also generate a capital receipt of £45,000 for Glasgow City Council.

What Other Land Disposals Were Approved by the Committee?

In a separate decision during the same meeting, the committee approved the disposal of a small parcel of amenity ground located at 9 Gorget Quadrant in Ruchill. Following this approval, formal negotiations will now begin with Wheatley Homes to determine the specific terms of the disposal.

What Is the Background to These Land and Infrastructure Developments?

Glasgow City Council routinely manages its property and land portfolio to support urban regeneration, housing targets and national infrastructure upgrades. In Scotland, an “excambion” is a longstanding legal mechanism under Scots property law used to exchange plots of land between two parties without requiring a standard open-market sale, often utilised by local authorities and registered social landlords like Wheatley Homes to unlock stalled or fragmented sites.

In Easterhouse, local ecological surveys have previously identified populations of water voles—a protected species in the UK—living in terrestrial grassland habitats away from traditional waterways, making land allocation critical for their conservation. Simultaneously, Scottish Water has been modernising its wastewater and bioresource management across central Scotland to meet stricter environmental standards set by SEPA and contribute to national net-zero targets through renewable gas generation.

How Could These Developments Affect Glasgow Residents, Tenants and the Local Environment?

For prospective social housing tenants in the east end of Glasgow, the Easterhouse land exchange directly increases the local supply of affordable housing by 45 units, while the Ruchill disposal provides Wheatley Homes with additional land for potential local improvements.

For residents across central Scotland, the progression of the Daldowie Bioresource Treatment Centre signals long-term upgrades to essential wastewater infrastructure serving 40 per cent of the country, alongside increased domestic biomethane production for the national energy grid. Locally in Easterhouse, the formal designation of a water vole sanctuary provides permanent habitat protection for a declining native species, preserving green space alongside new residential development.