HUNDREDS of new Glasgow jobs are a step closer to becoming a reality thanks to a £200,000 lottery windfall.

The cash will be used to draw up plans for a £5.3million office complex - expected to provide employment for 400 workers.

Govan Workspace, a company which lets out commercial space to small businesses, aims to start construction by the end of next year.

Pat Cassidy, managing director of the firm, said: "This funding has allowed us to start planning this project one year ahead of schedule.

"It will also lead to a much-needed employment boost for Govan."

The derelict site on Holmfauld Road, where the 30,000 sq ft office will be built, was bought for £1m from Clydeport in 2006.

Govan Workspace has spent the last two years, at a further cost of £1m, cleaning up the land, which was contaminated with industrial waste from the former shipyard.

The building will be the first phase of a £20m development which will see 130,000 sq ft of office space constructed by 2016.

Mr Cassidy said: "The grant will help push things forward quicker than we'd hoped."

A consultation, involving around 23,000 people across Govan, will take place so residents have an input into the development.

And the South Side community is not the only area of Glasgow to benefit from the Big Lottery Fund.

Townhead has also received a £68,000 boost towards planning and building a community centre.

Funding will allow plans for the £1.3m building, earmarked for a site next to Taylor Place tower blocks, to be finalised with residents' views taken into consideration.

Although it is dependent on further lottery funding, it is hoped the Townhead Village Hall will be built and ready to open as early as the end of next year.

Stuart Harvey, secretary of the steering committee set up to take the project forward, said: "This is fantastic news for the people of Townhead."

Alison Magee is chairwoman of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland.

She added: "Both of these communities can now be involved in ensuring that new facilities meet their specific needs.

"These grants provide assistance to put plans into place to secure vital community assets which will bring much-needed training and employment opportunities to both areas."