The long-running controversy over housing plans on the site of a wood adopted by families in Glasgow has reached a showpiece "final hurdle", with Government officials to hear arguments for and against the plan.

A public hearing will be held in the city over two days this week which will have a crucial role in determining the fate of the contested land in the west end.

High profile opponents of the plan, the Irish-based development firm behind the proposal for 90 houses on the site and Glasgow City Council will all make their cases during the hearing at the Maryhill Burgh Hall.

A rarely used mechanism within the planning system, the Scottish Government 'reporters' will then pass their recommendations following Tuesday and Wednesday's to ministers who will then decide.

Read more: North Kelvin Meadow campaigners hail "brilliant" news as Reporter rules against housing

Although developers New City Vision could still take their case to the civil courts if ministers decide in favour of the Children's Wood campaigners, the hearing brings the curtain down on around 15 years of opposition to the scheme.

Ahead of the hearing, a spokeswoman for the Children's Wood campaign said: “This fight to retain the Children’s Wood North Kelvin Meadow represents a significant test case for much recent community engagement and the people and parent power policies, introduced by the Scottish Government.

"It is staggering the amount of energy and commitment locals have dedicated to the North Kelvin Meadow to protect and promote their local green space.

"If this campaign can’t succeed in such a deprived area and with such obvious community benefits, there is little hope for other groups trying to take responsibility for their own lives.”

Approved earlier this year by the city council, which stands to make a profit by selling the land to New City Vision, the planning application was ‘called in’ by the Government and followed a petition signed by 6000 people asking for it to be re-appraised.

Deciding to call in the application, the Government’s report stated that “given the loss of valued open space and possible conflict with policy, as well as the council’s financial interest in the proposal it is considered that, on balance, it raise issues of national significance as to merit further scrutiny and determination by Scottish Ministers rather than by Glasgow City Council”.

Read more: North Kelvin Meadow campaigners hail "brilliant" news as Reporter rules against housing

Recently three Government appointed reporters investigated and recommended that the city council delete the housing proposals for the land in the upcoming blueprint for development in the city.

Those who will speak during the hearing or contribute to it include the Children's Commissioner for Scotland, Tam Baillie, academics from the main universities, local teachers and educationalists.

Supporters of the meadow campaign have included leading children’s author Julia Donaldson, Turner Prize-winning artist Richard Wright, Franz Ferdinand’s Paul Thomson, musician RM Hubbert, writers Bernard MacLaverty and Alasdair Gray and Dr Carol Craig, director of the Centre for Confidence and Well-being.

The Children’s Wood campaign also has full planning permission to develop a community park and garden on the site and will make its move pending the decision.

No-one from New City Vision was available for comment.

But Marguerite Hunter Blair, chief executive of the organisation Play Scotland, said: “This fight to retain the Children’s Wood represents a significant test case for much recent community engagement and the people and parent power policies, introduced by the Scottish Government.

"It is staggering the amount of energy and commitment locals have dedicated to the North Kelvin Meadow to protect and promote their local green space.

"If this campaign can’t succeed in such a deprived area and with such obvious community benefits, there is little hope for other groups trying to take responsibility for their own lives.”