The communities are East Govan/Ibrox, Gallowgate, Laurieston, Maryhill, North Toryglen, Red Road, Sighthill and Shawbridge, with the aim of transforming them along the lines of the highly successful New Gorbals.

As well as houses, there will be new public facilities, green spaces and shops.

The Scottish Government is spearheading the plans and will be joined in the programme by Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association and other local housing bodies.

Insiders estimate that when the combined contribution over the next five to 10 years for the areas is factored in, along with the investment this could then attract, £1bn is a conservative estimate.

The first meeting of the three major partners will be this month, when it is hoped they will come up with an initial blueprint.

Plans for Maryhill will aim to provide 400 homes, 300 for owner-occupiers and 100 for tenants at Maryhill Locks.

Proposals for Laurieston initially envisage 300 homes, mainly for rent, with three more phases over a number of years.

All four phases would bring the total number of new homes in Laurieston to 1700 for rent, private sale and low-cost home ownership. The proposals also include new health, social services and community facilities, green space and commercial and retail accommodation.

It would also transform the city’s riverside communities from the border with South Lanarkshire to Govan.

They will be part of what are known as Transformational Regeneration Areas.

Some details of the proposed areas scheme had been announced earlier this year, but the issue of whose remit ‘regeneration’ fell into led to a fall-out between the city council and GHA and threatened to jeopardise the whole programme.

Under a planned pilot, GHA and the council were to have a joint role in regenerating three areas, but at some meetings officials stormed out or refused to attend others.

However, Glasgow Housing Association this week appointed a new chief executive, Martin Armstrong, 44, and it appears he has helped restart the scheme.

Housing And Communities Minister Alex Neil said: “This project, like others in the city, will improve the lives of residents, deliver hundreds of affordable homes and much needed community facilities.”

Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The project in Maryhill will be the first of eight that will continue the regeneration of the city.”

GHA chairwoman Sandra Forsythe said: “This initiative will create neighbourhoods that are vibrant, popular and sustainable and help to transform and regenerate substantial parts of the city.”

gerry.braiden@

heraldandtimes.co.uk