The Govan housing study arose because of a shared desire from the City council and the three local community controlled housing associations to better understand housing requirements in the area and also to assess the evidence which could support a strategic business case for a package of interventions within the local housing system in order to steer housing development, including from the private sector, to the benefit of Govan and the city. This study was also supported by the University of Glasgow, which is an important stakeholder, via the (Glasgow Riverside Innovation District) (GRID) programme, in the wider Govan area.

Govan has experienced mass de-population on an unparalleled scale in the city region, but it remains a major locus of employment in the city region, because of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the continuing shipbuilding and related business clusters associated with BAE. The area also has considerable light industrial and other smaller employment sites. Greater Govan is also characterised by many develop-able sites with potential for residential construction. At the same time, Govan and Partick are about to be rejoined by a new bridge which will enhance connectivity to the west end and the University, as well as complementing the subway and other accessible bus and private car transport modes.

The hypothesis is that Govan is now therefore at a tipping point that could draw on its rich, multi-faceted heritage, make it a more attractive and well located housing location and that potential opportunities (e.g. the Transforming Communities: Glasgow site in Ibrox) could be supported for first time buyers, mid-market renting, student housing and social housing (in a context of rising citywide unmet need, the housing emergency and the regenerative capacity of local housing associations to contribute to local solutions).