THE demolition of one of Glasgow’s oldest hospitals has got underway.

The Western Infirmary, which was built in 1874, is being redeveloped by the University of Glasgow as part of a £1billion expansion.

The 14-acre site was sold to the university for £14 million as part of a historic land agreement that will see new buildings for health, business, chemistry and the arts and performing spaces.

A second phase of work is scheduled to start in 2023 on a new engineering centre, an “innovation quarter” to engage with local industry and a building for research into chronic diseases.

An estimated 2,500 jobs are expected to be created during the construction period, with the University promising that the development will bring significant community, economic, environmental and cultural benefits.

The Western Infirmary was developed on land owned by the university as a teaching hospital and opened in 1874.

A clause was signed stating that if the hospital ever ceased to be a hospital, then the university could buy back the site.

In 2002, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde announced the hospital was to close with services transferred to Gartnavel General and the South Glasgow University Hospital.

It shut its doors on December 6 2015.