A £65million office block in Glasgow city centre is expected to be snapped by a major corporation before construction workers complete the building programme.

The St Vincent Plaza will not be ready for occupation for another two years but the developers believe a large employer will want to use the 10-storey building as a flagship HQ.

And Abstract (Glasgow) Ltd, which is behind the scheme, is confident a long-term lease will be signed by a blue chip tenant before the development is completed in the summer of 2015.

The revelation comes just weeks before construction begins.

The development will take place on a vacant site in St Vincent Street – next door to the Santander building – and will be able to accommodate up to 2000 office workers.

No other office block in the city can handle so many staff under the one roof and Abstract chiefs are promising potential tenants the city's cheapest commercial rent.

The development is also on the edge of Glasgow's International Financial Services District (IFSD).

Development director Christopher McPherson said: "St Vincent Plaza will be the most competitive speculative 'Grade A' office development of its kind to be completed in Glasgow for several years and is likely to be one of only a few speculative office schemes of its size outside London.

"Starting construction underlines our commitment and confidence in the IFSD and the city as a whole, and we are confident that the scheme will let at an early stage."

The plaza is a major boost to an area of the city which has been dormant since the mid-90s when local government re-organisation brought the shutters down on Strathclyde Regional Council.

The council's headquarters were on the corner of St Vincent Street and India Street and earlier this month the Evening Times told how planning approval had been given to build a new £100m HQ for ScottishPower on that site.

St Vincent Plaza is being built across the street and both developments have the potential to bring up to 4000 office workers to that part of the city when both office developments are completed and ready for occupation in 2015.

The old Odeon Cinema complex in Renfield Street is also undergoing a multi-million pound makeover.

The mix of commerce and residential is expected to generate another 1800 jobs, while there's optimism that 1200 more posts will be created when a new office opens in Queen Street.

Mr McPherson told the Evening Times that work on the one and a half acre plaza site – it backs on to William Street where the Glasgow Hilton is located – will begin on June 5.

He added: "The news that the HQ for Scottish Power will be delivered at the same time as St Vincent Plaza is fantastic for Glasgow.

"The transport links are second to none and our proposals to improve the linkage between St Vincent Street and William Street and the Hilton Hotel beyond will significantly improve the pedestrian experience in this location."

Councillor leader Gordon Matheson is also pleased.

He said: "These two major developments at St Vincent Street represent a massive vote of confidence in Glasgow.

"They provide another example of the building of the highest quality office space which will continue to attract businesses and investment to the city."

He added: "All of these projects, due to open within 18 months of each other during 2014 and 2015, will create thousands of constructions jobs.

"This is more good news from Glasgow for a sector which has been supported here during a difficult economic time through our investment in infrastructure, including our preparations for next year's Commonwealth Games."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk