CELTIC'S bid to demolish a disused school next to its stadium and replace it with a club superstore, museum and other football fans' facilities has been given the go-ahead.

The proposals were approved after civic plan- ners agreed the heritage arguments for retaining the B-listed London Road Primary School next to the club's ground in Glasgow's East End were outweighed by the case made for the econ- omic spin-offs generated by the development.

Glasgow City Council's cross-party planning com- mittee rubber stamped the plans.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: "This is fantastic news for the club and is something which will allow us to completely transform Celtic Park, providing a stunning new public realm area."

Historic Scotland will now have a say on the demolition with the unlikely, but theoretically possible, scenario that the Scottish Government could block the bid.

Further applications for the site are expected in the coming weeks.

However, it emerged during the meeting that the timetable was behind schedule and the scheme will not be completed in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which the Queen will open at Celtic Park.

Instead, only the demolition and associated public realm works linking the Parkhead stadium with adjacent Commonwealth Games venues will be finished on time.

Celtic's plans for a two-storey building include a superstore, museum, theatre, cafe and ticket offices and will involve the sale of the school by the authority to the club for around £300,000.

Part of the old school wall will be retained as a 'historic link' and anything of architectural worth recycled in other developments.

Planning officer Blair Greenock said: "The council believes the case for demolition is necessary for economic growth and the good of the wider community."

gerry.braiden@ heraldandtimes.co.uk