The Urban Union consortium will initially deliver 201 affordable rent homes for New Gorbals Housing Association to rehouse tenants affected by clearance and demolition programmes in the area.

Later phases will see around 600 new homes built through the five-year life of the project as well as commercial and retail property

Laurieston’s redevelopment has been talked about since the early 1990s, but it was only with the demolition of several tower blocks in the Gorbals area that it is now possible to proceed.

John Murphy, Urban Union consortium board member and regional director for Robertson Homes, said: “Phase 1 of the scheme is expected to commence on site in Autumn 2011 and will include the development of 201 one, two & three bedroom homes for affordable rent.

“The first phase, worth £22m, is expected to last two years and will be shortly followed by phase 2, which will include the provision of up to 600 houses of mixed tenures including retail and hotel accommodation.”