QUEENS Cross Housing Association has been given the go-ahead for more than 600 homes in the Hamiltonhill area of Glasgow.

City Council planners approved the application which also includes small-scale commercial units, car parking and landscaping.

It follows agreement earlier this year of a masterplan aimed at transforming the area. Detailed plans will still need to be submitted for approval.

The report by planners states: “There are currently large areas of Hamiltonhill that are either vacant or lying in a state of dereliction. This includes substantial under-utilised greenspace assets.

“Hamiltonhill has a high proportion of gap sites including three recently demolished schools and others resulting from housing clearances, with its remaining stock being well kept and popular four in a block ‘cottage flats’”

The new housing will be a mixture of flats, cottage flats, townhouses and houses. Around half will be for social rent and half private tenures.

The development would take place on various vacant sites:

— Land bounded by Ellesmere Street, Auckland Street, Caldarvan Street and Hamiltonhill Road.

— The former St Cuthbert’s and Saracen primary school sites on land bounded by Auckland Street, Hobart Street, Bardowie Street, Carbeth Street and Stonyhurst Street.

— The former Westercommon Primary School site on land to the west of Ellesmere Street.

— Land to the south of Ellesmere Street and above the Applecross Basin, mostly vacant shop units.

Three non-residential units are proposed, one for community use. An existing hair salon on Ellesmere Street is likely to relocate to one of the other units.