NEW life is to be breathed back into a neglected Glasgow community.

Hundreds of private homes are set to be built as part of a multi-million pound plan to bring new residents into the Laurieston area of the Gorbals.

City politicians have given the green light to plans for 600 new homes-for-sale and, potentially, 160 more.

The go-ahead has also been given for a hotel, shops and community facilities.

However, it could be years before all the private homes are available. Supply of the flats and houses will be driven by demand.

Construction work is already well under way on 201 homes for the social market – 162 flats and 39 houses – which are due for completion in 2014. They will be let at affordable rents by the New Gorbals Housing Association.

The private homes are the latest phase of this £90million project to invigorate Laurieston, which lies south of the Clyde but is marketed as a new city centre quarter.

The development will include open green areas which will link Laurieston to the centre of Glasgow.

The project is being led by the Urban Union a consortium, a partner-ship involving Essex builder Keepmoat, Dalry-based McTaggart Construction and Elgin- based Robertson Construction.

Project manager Janice Belshaw said: "This area has waited a long time for this transformation and it is great to see how quickly things are now moving.

"We are already on schedule with the first phase of affordable housing and now we can move forward with the rest of our plans.

"Our goal is to bring high quality new homes, jobs and facilities to an area that desperately needs them."

Laurieston is one of eight city areas identified for major regeneration. Work is also ongoing in Maryhill and the Gallowgate.

The Scottish Government is provid-ing £14m towards the development with the remainder coming from Glasgow City Council.

City councillor Liz Cameron said: "The go-ahead for the remainder of this phased-development project marks an exciting time. We are delighted the consultation process went so smoothly with no objections.

"The development aims to breathe new life into a part of the city which deserves its chance to shine."

The project is likely to take 10 years and marketing chiefs are to search for operators for the hotel, shops and community facilities.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk