HUNDREDS of house hunters are lining up to buy a slice of Glasgow city centre living.

And it doesn't get much more central than this - near the top of Buchanan Street.

The 49 flats, part of the £70million Buchanan Quarter development being built on the block opposite Buchanan Galleries and backing on to West Nile Street, will not go on sale until next year.

But already more than 400 people have registered an interest in the one, two and three bedroom apartments.

No prices are yet available for the flats, which will have a residents' roof garden and gymnasium.

The roof garden, which will be located in the centre of the development, will feature formal lawns and seating areas designed to create an oasis in the heart of the city.

Owners will be able to enjoy birch trees, water features and pergolas planted with climbers.

A number of the properties will have private outdoor spaces with terraces and balconies.

Anyone who snaps up one of the flats will be able to watch the 91m shoppers – almost 6140 an hour – who are drawn to Buchanan Street each year.

Jan Eldridge of developer Land Securities said: "We are delighted with the reaction Buchanan Gardens is attracting in Glasgow. It mirrors the success we have seen with high-profile city centre developments elsewhere in the United Kingdon.

"The key has been offering a premium quality product in a first class city centre location at a competitive price."

These flats are being marketed by Savills and Jennifer Goldie, head of residential development sales, said: "This really will be a special place to live.

"The apartments will offer a high level of specification with exciting features such as the landscaped roof gardens which will provide fortunate owners with an oasis of tranquillity right in the heart of the city."

Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "It's no surprise so many people have expressed an interest in living in the heart of the city.

"Glasgow has something to offer everyone - whether it's the excellent range of bars and restaurants, or the best shopping in Britain outside of the west end of London.

"Buchanan Street is without doubt one of the finest streets in the UK so it's easy to see why people would want to live there.

"I look forward to the completion of this development which will no doubt be another success story for Glasgow."

The properties will be marketed from a showhome on site next spring with the first owners expected to take up residence in the autumn of next year.

At ground floor level, the development will feature nine shop outlets including Forever 21, Paperchase, Gap, Office, Fat Face, Skechers and Watches of Switzerland.

On the same block as the Buchanan Quarter development, work is finishing on turning the A-listed Townhouse building – formerly the Athenaeum theatre – into what is said to be the biggest Thai restaurant in Europe.

The £2m development, which will be the first Scottish branch of dining chain Chaophraya, will transform the property into a four level restaurant.