Land near The Barras market is to be sold off to build new flats.

The land, described as “extremely desirable” at Gallowgate near Glasgow Cross, is currently used as a council pay and display car park.

It has been used as a car park for many years but the council deemed it to be surplus to requirements and has agreed to sell it to Wheatley Homes Glasgow to build flats.

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The plan is for 34 homes for social rent and two commercial premises on the ground floor.

The car park is on Gallowgate, Spoutmouth and Molendinar Street to the east of Glasgow Cross.

The land is to be sold to Wheatley for £108,000. The housing provider has already spent £867,000 on site investigation works.

The sale is one of ten sites that are being sold off to social housing providers across the city to increase the availability of homes for rent.

The flats will be built on land just a few minutes walk from the city centre and Merchant City to the west and the Barras to the east.

Councillors on the Contracts and Property committee are being asked to approve the sale this week.

Once agreed the transfer will take place in March to allow work to begin on the housing.

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Wheatley Homes said the flats will aid regeneration in the East End of the city centre.

Frank McCafferty, Wheatley Group Director of Assets and Repairs, said: “We know there is a huge demand for affordable housing in Glasgow.

“This site just off the Gallowgate is in an extremely desirable city centre location, with excellent transport links and amenities on the doorstep.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Glasgow City Council to build 34 new energy-efficient affordable homes which will help tackle the housing need and regenerate the community.”