University of Glasgow said it has taken possession of the city’s former Western Infirmary site in a milestone that will enable the proposed £1 billion investment in the university’s Gilmorehill campus.

The Gilmorehill project, one of the biggest education developments in Scotland, is expected to create up to 2,500 jobs during the construction period.

The university’s masterplan for the former Western Infirmary site — which covers 14 acres — includes:

• A research and innovation hub and incubator space for spin-out collaborations with industry, which should support economic development in Glasgow’s West End
• Public routes and a new central square which will link Byres Road to the up-and-coming cultural quarter for the West End, with new links to Kelvingrove and the newly-refurbished Kelvin Hall
• New buildings for social sciences, the Institute of Health and Well-being, and the School of Science and Engineering
• Commercial devlopments including a hotel, restaurant, bars and cafes

Prof Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “Since the university moved to Gilmorehill in 1870, we have developed a number of iconic buildings, including, of course, the Gilbert Scott Building.

“The facilities we built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries provided a fantastic environment for University of Glasgow researchers, who won seven Nobel prizes and many other accolades.

“We hope to use the new site as a catalyst to attract and grow the very best academics, to attract the very best students and to ensure that Glasgow continues to be one of the top universities in the world.”

He added: “The first major development will be a Learning and Teaching Hub — situated not on the former Western Infirmary site but on University Avenue.

“It will provide spaces for 3,000 students at any one time, as well as state-of-the-art facilities, and will allow us to use the latest techniques in pedagogy.”

Councillor Frank McAveety, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The University is an important contributor to the economic, social and cultural future of Glasgow.

“These are ambitious plans to make this area of the West End even more vibrant and I look forward to this site being transformed into one which enhances Glasgow’s international reputation.”