MAJOR building firms are queuing up to be allowed to build the Athletes' Village for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

MAJOR building firms are queuing up to be allowed to build the Athletes' Village for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Companies who are interested in getting involved in the project, which is likely to cost well over £100million, were asked by council chiefs to complete a detailed questionnaire.

Around 70 have been returned from a wide range of firms including architects, design and project management companies.

But it is understood a number of huge consortiums, which could carry out the entire development, also lodged an interest before Monday's deadline.

It follows yesterday's Evening Times revealing the £17m deal to buy the final piece of land needed for the village is set to be agreed on Friday.

A council spokesman said: "We received more than 70 registered notes of interest in the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village by the noon deadline on August 11. This was a very healthy figure indeed given current market conditions."

Steve Inch, the council's executive director of development and regeneration, said: "The intention is to evaluate these expressions of interest and by the third week in September, we hope to be able to recommend which companies should be taken forward.

"That will be narrowed down to four or five and we will get into what is called a competitive dialogue towards the end of the year.

"We will then be in a position early next year to recommend who the preferred developer should be.

"I would hope that by Spring next year we will have all the contractual arrangements in place."

The 95-acre site opposite Celtic Park will provide accommodation and facilities for 6500 competitors and officials.

When the Games are over, it will be transformed into a residential community with 1000 new homes - around 300 of them for rent.

Council leader Steven Purcell said: "The Commonwealth Games will provide many opportunities for Glasgow and the Athletes' Village will be one of the greatest providers of opportunities before and after 2014."