By VIVIENNE NICOLL

THE next phase of the £250million regeneration of Sighthill will next week take a major step forward.

On Thursday, city councillors are expected to appoint Doncaster based Keepmoat Homes, which has a base in Rutherglen, as the company which will build 826 new homes in the area.

The deal, which will involve 628 houses for sale and 198 for mid-market rent, shops and a commercial development, is understood to be worth around £100m.

It is expected the construction work, which will complete the regeneration of Sighthill, will take a decade to complete.

The homes to rent will be let and managed by Lowther Homes which is part of the Wheatley Group which includes GHA.

GHA has already built and rented 141 home as part of the biggest regeneration scheme in the UK outside of London.

It will include a new community school campus, a footbridge across the M8 connecting Sighthill to the city centre and a road bridge across the railway to link the area to Port Dundas.

There will also be improved parkland across Sighthill, allotments and public spaces.

Kenny McLean, the city council's convener for neighbourhoods, housing and public realm, said: "This is a historic day for Sighthill and Glasgow.

"The appointment of Keepmoat Homes as our preferred developer to deliver new homes, shops and commercial development in Sighthill marks the next step for the regeneration of the area.

"This area, immediately to the north of the city centre, has fantastic potential and I am sure it will become an example of regeneration in the years to come."

Tom Barclay, Wheatley Group director of property and development, said the new mid-market development would increase the supply of badly needed affordable homes in the city and would be a key part in the regeneration plan.

He added: "It is an exciting time for Sighthill and we will be working closely with the local community and our partners in the city council and the Scottish Government as the plans progress."

Keepmoat Homes will deliver 62 new jobs through modern apprenticeships, graduates and new entrants, 45 new jobs on the construction project and support 46 existing apprenticeships and 82 work placements.

The new road bridge across the Glasgow to Edinburgh rail line is due to be completed towards the end of next year and the pedestrian bridge by the end of 2019.