PLANS to build a massive housing development in the north of the city have taken a major step forward.

Four years ago, housebuilder Stewart Milne revealed plans for 1600 homes in Robroyston in a £100million- plus project to be the size of 400 football pitches.

The huge site straddling the M80 will include a rail station with park and ride, healthcare and community facilities, hotel, primary school, indoor and outdoor sports facilities and open space.

City planners approved the scheme in principal in 2012 and Stewart Milne has now lodged a detailed application for the first phase of 400 homes.

The move has been welcomed by North-East Labour councillor Gerry Leonard. He said: "I am delighted Robroyston is getting new housing and community facilities because they are badly needed.

"There will be disruption for residents so we have to make sure Stewart Milne consults with local people and businesses in the area.

"The new station has got planning permission and will be great for the area because it will be park and ride and people will be able to get into the city centre in six minutes."

Mr Leonard said it is also hoped to establish a mini town centre.

SNP councillor Gerry Boyle, whose home overlooks the development site, welcomed the new housing.

But he added: "One of concerns I do have is that these will be four and five bedroom houses and the local schools don't have the capacity to take all the children."

Mr Boyle fears the added traffic from the new homes could exacerbate local traffic blackspots which he described as "horrendous".

Provan MSP Paul Martin also backed the project but said new facilities for local people such as dentists' and doctors' surgeries should be built at the same time as the new homes and not once the house building is complete.

And he said concerns are raised regularly by local people about parts of the development site which have been untended and are now overgrown.

Mr Martin added: "Homes have already been built in Robroyston and successfully sold and we don't have an issue with that.

"But we do have an issue with the lack of facilities to support local people."

Nobody from Stewart Milne was available to comment.

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk