A PENSIONER has returned to the West End cottage where he was born before it is redeveloped into a £100 million development.

Stanley Johnson, who was born in the front room of the property on Jordanhill Drive, was keen to visit before the site closed for construction work.

The visit to the site of the former Jordanhill Campus was a trip down memory lane for the 76-year-old.

He contacted CALA Homes (West), the firm behind construction of 400 homes at the location, which developers have renamed Jordanhill Park.

The pensioner was given a personal tour of the former campus and a final look at the cottage where he was born more than seven decades ago.

He said: “Dad moved in during 1932 and I was born in 1942 in the front room.

"It was a ‘tied’ house as my dad was deputy head gardener.

“The visit brought back a lot of memories and I now have the photos to remind me of them.

“I was surprised at how interested my wife and daughter were as we explored every nook and cranny.

"I can’t thank CALA enough for being so helpful."

Mr Johnson’s visit happened days before celebrating his 76th birthday and the former campus closed to the public.

Access to the site stopped on October 15 after initial construction works started.

The housebuilder said the £100 million development will build on the site’s legacy.

It previously housed one of Scotland’s leading teaching facilities before it was vacated in 2012 and there had been a long running local campaign to have the development plans for the sire altered.

The development also promises to “breathe new life” into the B-listed David Stow building and ensure the existing playing fields remain available to local community.

Project director David Sutherland added: “It was a pleasure to show Stanley around and help him re-live his early days.

"The fact that he was born in the cottage made it extra-special for us - we knew this was a one-off chance for Stanley to enjoy a last look at his former home and share with his family a slice of his life that they’ve never previously experienced.”

Strathclyde University moved its facilities from the 31-acre site to new premises in the city centre.

Before the planning application was approved, Jordanhill Community Council published counter proposals to reduce the size of the development.

Designed by architects 7N, the development promises to create more than 200 new jobs for Glasgow and provide a £5m economic boost in Gross Added Value.

The first apartments, at Southbrae Drive, will go on the market by the beginning of 2020.