LAND owned by the Glasgow School of Art could be leased to the city council and used as a cycle route and walkway.

Terms have been agreed for a 25-year lease of part of the former Stow College campus.

The site would be used as part of a wider scheme to “provide a direct pedestrian and cycling link from the heart of the city centre to the West End”.

A deal, at a peppercorn rent, is subject to approval from councillors and the art school’s board.

It relates to around 520 square metres of ground to the north-east corner of the Stow College car park, close to the site entrance from Scott Street.

Glasgow councillors are asked to give their approval to the proposal when they meet on Thursday.

Council officers approached the Glasgow School of Art about the land on the instruction of the Glasgow City Region.

City Deal funding – a more than £1 billion investment by both the UK and Scottish Governments in the region – will be used for the scheme, which is estimated to cost £3.8 million.

A council report states: “The site will be used to form part of a network of pedestrian and cycle routes across Glasgow city centre, with this section in Cowcaddens/Garnethill referred to as The Underline.”

The City Deal will see around £115m invested in the Enabling Infrastructure – Integrated Public Realm programme, known as the Avenues project.

It has been designed to transform 17 key streets in Glasgow’s city centre – with some work, such as on Sauchiehall Street, already completed.

The report adds: “The Underline is one of these Avenues and will see improvements to Cambridge Street from Sauchiehall Street precinct, along to the junction with Cowcaddens, down to the underpass giving access to the subway and along New City Road past the former Stow College to connect with St Georges Road.”

Land at the former college site is needed “to ensure the most direct and continuous route can be taken”.

Construction is currently proposed to begin in January 2022 and to be completed by summer 2023.

“As tender packages for a main contractor have yet to be let the exact phasing of construction and cost are not fully known,” the council report states.

The proposed rent to be paid by the council for the art school’s land is £1 per annum if asked.