Linwood

Town in Renfrewshire unitary authority, Scotland, 8 km/5 mi west of Paisley; population (2001) 9,050. For census purposes, Linwood is considered part of Johnstone. Formerly a small village, the town underwent rapid development to become the principal centre of the Scottish motor industry, before the local car plant was forced to close in 1981. The site is now used as a car park for Glasgow airport.

In 1963 the Rootes Group, attracted by the earlier opening of the nearby Ravenscraig steelworks, established a car plant, to produce the Hillman Imp, at Linwood. In 1967 the Rootes Group was taken over by Chrysler (UK), which was reluctant to invest in the Linwood plant. The British government attempted to intervene, investing £45 million by 1975. After heavy redundancies, however, the plant closed in 1981.