THE former Western Infirmary site was sold to Glasgow University for £14 million as part of a historic land agreement.

University bosses have revealed that the deal was reached in 2012 - after a caveat signed in 1878 stated that if the hospital closed it must be sold to them.

The 14 acre hospital campus in the city's west end - cleared after patients and services moved to the new £842 million Queen Elizabeth University hospital - will now be transformed as part of a £1 billion Glasgow University expansion.

Glasgow University moved to it's west end home from High Street in the city centre in 1870.

The Western Infirmary was developed on land owned by the university as a teaching hospital and opened in 1874.

In 1878 Glasgow University signed the Western over to hospital managers but the deal included a clause which stated that if it ceased to be used as an infirmary they would be "entitled to re-acquire the buildings and land".

When the closure of the Western Infirmary was sealed, in 2012, a price of £14 million was agreed.

Over the next 10 years, the university will spend £1 billion transforming the former hospital land and buildings creating a new research and teaching centre and College of Arts.

Also planned are new buildings for social sciences, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, College of Science and Engineering and a Centre for Chronic Diseases.

Work to strip out the hospital buildings will begin later this year before some are demolished to make way for new builds.

There are also plans to create a new public square with walking and cycle links from Byres Road to Kelvingrove Park.

The main hospital building and a chapel are among the five on the site which are listed.

They could be transformed into hotels or restaurant space, say university bosses.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow University said: "The creation of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital provided the opportunity for the University to expand at a time of continued growth of both student numbers and its research portfolio.

"The sale returning the land back to the University was agreed in late 2012, at the market value of nearly £14 million.

She added: "The agreement between the University of Glasgow and Glasgow City Council in 1878 demonstrated their historic commitment to delivering the best possible environment for research, education and healthcare for the benefit of the people of the City of Glasgow."

The Victoria Infirmary site also went up for sale after it was cleared following the transfer of services to the new Queen Elizabeth University hospital in the south of the city.

The 9.5 acre Battlefield site was marketed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Bidders were invited to come forward.

This process has now ended.

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "The closing date has now passed and we’re currently evaluating the bids."

He added that "a number" of bids have been received but would not confirm how many.

The former Yorkhill building has now become an Ambulatory Care hospital after the Royal Hospital for Sick Children also transferred to the new QEUH.