A DERELICT park beside Yorkhill Hospital - dubbed the land that time forgot' - is to become home to 94 flats.

But the housing development at Yorkhill Park will result in at least 60 trees being chopped down.

David Wilson Homes has been given permission to build the flats on a site between the Clydeside Expressway and the Sick Children's Hospital.

The company plans two blocks of one and two-bedroom flats on land that was formerly part of a park but was bought by British Rail in the 1970s.

It is covered by a tree preservation order, but about three quarters of the trees - principally at the entrance on Ferry Road and along the railway boundary - will be felled to allow building to go ahead.

In return, the house builder will carry out improvements to the rest of the park, including better paths, new signs, benches, general landscape improvements, a sitting area, viewing point and picnic area.

A children's play park and an all-weather sports pitch will also be built.

Councillors were told Yorkhill Park is under-used and has no facilities for children's play.

Councillor Alex Glass said: "I pass this area almost every day on the train and it is not one of the most pleasant.

"It is like the land time forgot, so any development that will improve it has to be welcome."

Steve Inch, the council's executive director of development and regeneration, said in a report: "The land has not formed an effective part of the park for a number of years and suffers from a severe lack of maintenance.

"The loss of this part of the former parkland has to be balanced against the proposed improvements to the existing park and the return of part of the former parkland to active use."

New trees will be planted along the western, northern and southern boundaries of the site, along with extensive hedges.

Mr Inch added: "In view of these enhancements and management improvements, it is considered the loss of some protected trees is justified in this case.

"The development of the site for housing hinges on the package of proposals to upgrade and enhance the exist- ing park to a level and standard that would be of benefit to the local population."