The £5.5 million plans involve a 42-home development at the corner of Victoria Road and Butterbiggins Road.

The scheme will provide homes with affordable rents to help meet the growing demand for housing in Govanhill.

John McLardie, chairperson of the Association, said: “This development, which is part of our overall regeneration strategy for Govanhill, will provide much-needed social housing for people in the community.

“It involves significant investment in a key site, which has been vacant for a considerable time. We hope to begin construction work in April 2016.”

The plans, which were fully submitted to Glasgow City Council earlier this week, are designed to frame the adjacent, B-listed Samaritan Hospital building, which was also converted into flats by the Association.

The development involves a seven-storey corner building that descends into shorter blocks. A seven-storey complex has already been completed by the Association at the other end of Butterbiggins Road.

The scheme, drawn up by Glasgow-based Collective Architecture, will include two and three bedroom family flats, as well as a number of larger family homes and amenity flats for elderly people, with wheelchair access for some. It is supported by £3m grant funding from Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government.

The site was occupied by a cinema until 1986 and also a petrol station, more recently being used as a public art space.

Other initiatives to regenerate Govanhill include the ongoing South-West Govanhill Property Acquisition and Repair Programme, a two-year pilot that involves the Association buying, repairing, letting and then managing up to 80 properties from private owners and landlords in four tenement blocks that include some of the poorest quality housing. It will also take on factoring where it has majority ownership. The Association currently owns around 40 properties in the south-west target area and provides factoring services in five tenements.

The Scottish Government has provided a grant of £4.3m to purchase and improve the south-west properties for social letting. Glasgow City Council will supplement the funding with £5m from its affordable homes and property repairs budgets. It is likely that a more comprehensive approach will be needed in the future if a sustainable solution is to be delivered.