It is billed as Scotland's national "theatre without walls" but now it finally has a permanent home.

The National Theatre of Scotland is to create its first permanent headquarters in a former cash and carry warehouse in the north of Glasgow in a nearly £6m project.

The home - not a theatre, but a base for rehearsal rooms, community drama work, technical, office and costume facilities - is the NTS's first permanent home in its nine year history and will include one of the largest rehearsal rooms in Scotland.

The building has been disused since 2002 and lies in the Speirs Wharf area of Glasgow close to other buildings operated by Scottish Opera, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the cultural hub of the Whisky Bond.

The building will be redeveloped by one of Scotland's leading architect firms, Gareth Hoskins Architects of Glasgow.

The total estimated cost for the new building is £5,875,000, with £3,454,481 of that price already secured.

This includes £2m from the Scottish Government, £500,000 from Glasgow City Council, nearly £470,000 from the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and£400,000 The Robertson Trust

There has also been donations of £75,000 from The Wolfson Foundation and £10,000 from. The Binks Trust

In addition, the Scottish Government has agreed to provide a loan funding facility to enable the NTS start the project.

The NTS, which works with theatres across Scotland, will try and raise the additional money from trusts and foundations and will also launch an appeal for major gifts to reduce the need for loan financing.

Finding a permanent home for the NTS has proved something of a drama in itself - amid much publicity, initially the plan was for the company to be based in The Bridge centre in Easterhouse, but it was not big enough.

The company then took up temporary residence in an office in Hope Street, in Glasgow's city centre, before moving to a facility in Port Dundas on a lease after a hoped-for move to an old industrial shed in Govan fell through.

Last year a £1.5m bid for capital funding from Creative Scotland was not successful.

The new building, beside a canal and off the Craighall Road, contains 40,000 square foot of space over two floors.

The space will allow the NTS to have all its "back room" facilities and work under the one roof, avoiding the cost of commercial rentals.

It will also be the space where the company's plays are "devised, developed and rehearsed", and also where sets and costumes can be made and stored.

The new HQ will also have a Learning and Community suite.

It is due to open in the spring of 2016 and be home to a full time staff of 43, with ample space for freelance project workers, writers, and visiting artists.

The costume department will be able to store hundreds of costumes, a dyeing room, laundry and cutting room.

The facility will include three rehearsals rooms.

Laurie Sansom, artistic director of the NTS, said: "For the first time ever, we have the opportunity to create a space that brings together our company, our colleagues and all our communities.

"A place of imagination, learning and play.

"A space from which we can begin to fulfil our ambitions, not just for the National Theatre of Scotland but for the wider theatre community and the entire nation."

Chris Coleman-Smith, director of Gareth Hoskins Architects, said: "We are delighted to be working with the National Theatre of Scotland, and a wider team of very capable consultants, to create a place where functions currently housed in scattered, and in cases inadequate, accommodation can be brought together in an efficient new facility.

"We are excited by the ambition of the organisation to create theatre on a national and international scale that is contemporary, confident and forward-looking and ourselves look to deliver a building that reflects that ambition.

"The new facility is designed to meet both their immediate and long term requirements, facilitating the continued evolution, development and growth of the National Theatre of Scotland, and contributing to the sustainable regeneration of the area"

Fiona Hyslop, Scotland's culture secretary, said the base will be a "hub of innovation" in Scottish theatre.

She said: "Not only will the facility assist with new productions and work, by redeveloping a disused building the facility will help to regenerate the canal area at Speirs Wharf.

"It is important we support culture and heritage, protecting budgets and supporting the sector wherever possible."

Work is due to start on the site in July this year.