PLANS to build a new railway station in the North-East of the city are expected to get a £10million boost from the city council.

Around 1600 new homes are in the pipeline for the Robroyston area and on Thursday, councillors will decide whether to provide cash to allow a new station to be built.

The £10m council cash will be repaid with developers paying the local authority £11,000 per house on completion of each block of 20 houses.

A report to councillors says building the new station will "significantly" speed up house building at Robroyston on both sides of the M80 motorway.

The developers have said 750 of the 800 homes which have planning permission south of the motorway could be built within three years of the new station opening.

It is also likely the programme for the 800 homes north of the M80 would also be accelerated.

The report says: "The opportunity to forward fund the station with an upfront investment of £10m from Glasgow City Council with the money recouped as the houses are sold, gives the developer confidence to accelerate the rate of construction on both sides of the M80 motorway delivering much needed family housing in the city.

"The delivery of a new rail station would be a major asset for both the housing that is being developed and the existing housing in the wider Robroyston area."

It is estimated the new station will boost the city's economy by more than £14million every year.

The new station on the Glasgow to Cumbernauld line is expected to open in 2019 and will feature two park and ride car parks.

The remainder of the £4.2m funding will come from Transport Scotland, SPT and the developers.

City council leader Frank McAveety said: "This is fantastic news for Glasgow, providing a new rail station for the people of Robroyston and Millerston and helping to bring almost 1600 much-needed new homes to this part of the city.

"We are delighted to provide this forward funding to allow the early delivery of this project and look forward to working with our partners through to its completion."

North-east councillor Gerry Leonard is part of a local group which has spent the past decade fighting for a station in the area.

He said: "At present, the transport from Robroyston into the city centre is horrendous with a bus every 40 minutes which doesn't go round the whole estate.

"This new railway station will allow residents to leave their cars at the park and ride and travel by train into the city centre in around 10 minutes.

"It will also ease congestion on the motorway and will mean fewer cars are clogging up the city centre."