Hundreds of new homes to buy in the Gorbals

Hundreds of private homes are set to be built as part of a multi-million pound plan to bring new residents into the Laurieston area of the Gorbals. City politicians have given the green light to plans for 600 new homes-for-sale and, potentially, 160 more. The go-ahead has also been given for a wider master plan which includes a hotel, shops and community facilities. However, it could be years before all the private homes are available. Supply of the flats and houses will be driven by demand.

The private homes are the latest phase of this £90million project to invigorate Laurieston, which is being marketed as a new city centre quarter. The development will include open green areas which will link Laurieston to the centre of Glasgow.

The project is by the Urban Union a consortium - a partnership involving Essex builder Keepmoat, Dalry-based McTaggart Construction and Elgin- based Robertson Construction.

Project manager Janice Belshaw said: "This area has waited a long time for this transformation and it is great to see how quickly things are now moving. We are already on schedule with the first phase of affordable housing and now we can move forward with the rest of our plans. Our goal is to bring high quality new homes, jobs and facilities to an area that desperately needs them."

Laurieston is one of eight areas that has been pinpointed for major regeneration and work has also started in Maryhill and the Gallowgate. The Scottish Government is providing £14m towards the development with the rest of the money coming from Glasgow City Council. The Laurieston project is being delivered locally in partnership with New Gorbals Housing Association. Work has started on phase one which will provide 201 affordable hoems for rent.

The regeneration of Laurieston has been considered since the mid 1990s when the first of three regeneration proposals was put forward by New Gorbals Housing Association. The project is expected to take 10 years to complete.