MAJOR plans to build more than 400 homes on the former Ruchill Hospital site have been submitted to the city council.

Bellway Homes and Scottish Enterprise have applied for permission to redevelop the almost 39-acre site.

Most of the original hospital has already been demolished but the category A-listed water tower would be retained as a “central feature”.

A C-listed stairwell would also be repaired and retained under the proposal.

READ MORE: Development plans for the North of Glasgow unveiled by council

“The proposed layout reflects the site’s unique attributes while preserving and enhancing the historic features retained from the former hospital,” a planning statement claims.

“Bellway Homes aims to deliver a bespoke residential development, providing much needed high-quality family homes to the area.

“The proposals seek to reach the highest standards in urban design, while ensuring the delivery of a commercially viable development.”

There would be 403 properties in total on the Bilsland Drive site, with 160 flats and 243 homes.

Glasgow Times:

The plans also reveal there would be 658 car parking spaces available, with the primary vehicular access from Bilsland Avenue.

All homes on the site, which will be broken down into ‘mini neighbourhoods’, would be for private sale.

Two large parks, in the east and west of the site, would be provided, as would some smaller parks. Trees would also be planted as part of the development.

There would be a mix of house types, including detached, semi-detached, terraced homes and flats, with a maximum height of four storeys.

Glasgow Times:

The central zone, where the old water tower will be, would be pedestrianised.

City engineer Alexander B. McDonald was appointed to design the hospital, with building work beginning in 1895.

Opened in 1900 as a Glasgow Corporation infectious diseases hospital, the facility grew from an initial 440 beds to over 700 by 1915 to cover tuberculosis patients.

It was absorbed into the NHS in the late 1940s and, at its peak, had 1000 beds.

Glasgow Times: The water towerThe water tower

In the early 1980s, it became the primary Glasgow hospital for dealing with HIV following the emergence of the virus.

Services began moving to modern facilities over the late 1980s and early 1990s and, in 1998, the hospital was closed.

“Scottish Enterprise bought the site in 1999 and applied to demolish most of the buildings in 2010,” the planning statement adds.

“The consent to demolish those buildings was secured via appeal in 2012.”