Glasgow’s Theatre Royal is to be transformed with an £8.5 million extension and refurbishment designed by a team of leading architects.

City-based Page/Park is to design the new foyer extension and interior redesign of the Theatre Royal – the home of Scottish Opera.

Last year the national company bought a patch of land to the rear of the A-listed concert hall and has appointed Page/Park to be its lead architects.

The firm is one of the most distinguished ­architects in Glasgow, responsible for a series of redevelopments.

Primarily the redevelopment will see a new entrance foyer facing Cowcaddens, with improved front-of-house facilities for customers including new bar areas, lifts and toilets.

It is hoped to be completed by 2014, in time for the Commonwealth Games.