Plans are in the pipeline for a £17 million housing-led development project to regenerate a key location in Govan.

Glasgow City Council is working with the local community to bring forward a masterplan for Water Row which includes plans for more than 100 new homes as well as more cultural and retail attractions.

Seen as a very important strategic regeneration area for the city, the proposal is being co-ordinated through the council, local regeneration body Central Govan Action Plan (CGAP) and Govan Housing Association.

The vision is to create a “lively attractive destination” at Water Row that capitalises on and enhances the site’s many unique assets, including its rich history, unsurpassed water front location, exceptional surrounding historic buildings and visitor attractions at Govan Old and the Riverside Museum, and the planned new footbridge and cycling routes to be brought forward via the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

The availability of council funding for new housing provision has presented the first opportunity in at least a decade to bring forward development at the site, which has remained moribund and underutilised for the last 40 years since the closure and demolition of the Harland and Wolff Shipyard. In keeping with the strong local tradition of community-led regeneration in Govan, the first phase of mixed–use development will be set in the context of a masterplan that will be developed over the coming year with full community and wider stakeholder involvement.

As well as new housing provision, other uses to be investigated further at the site include new business, community and leisure space as well as setting up an exemplar district heating scheme using renewable energy technology that sources heat from the River Clyde. A similar scheme by STAR renewables is currently being piloted at the Gorbals and promises significant energy bill savings for the residents and businesses who are part of the scheme alongside lower overall carbon emissions.

It is expected that Govan Housing Association will provide up to 100 mid-market rent (MMR) units and up to 32 units for social rent. The expected site start date would be around September 2019.

Total costs and funding for the residential element of the site have yet to be confirmed but an estimate at this stage would be around £17m. The details and final units, layouts, housing mix, etc, will be scoped out through the development of the masterplan.

Councillor Kenny McLean, city convener for neighbourhoods, housing and public realm at Glasgow City Council, said: “The redevelopment of this site beside the river at Water Row will play a key part in the regeneration of Govan. We can look forward to the development of new homes and business, community and leisure spaces on the site, as the exciting regeneration of this historic part of the city continues.”

Deirdre Gaughan, chairperson of Central Govan Action Plan, said: “It’s great to see things finally moving. We now have a huge opportunity to be ambitious and deliver something very special at Water Row, inspiring development that reflects the site’s significance, meets local needs and gives Govan the extra it needs to really draw people to the area. We want to grab this opportunity with both hands and ensure it gets it done right, for Govan and for the city.”

Fiona McTaggart, chief executive of Govan Housing Association, added: “The redevelopment of Water Row and the delivery of high quality and affordable new homes, businesses, community assets, leisure spaces and sustainable employment on this remarkable site is a vital part of the continued regeneration of Govan and a fundamental project for the city. We are looking forward to working with key partners, and most importantly the people of Govan, to deliver an innovative and inspirational development for the area and something which makes the Govan community proud to call Govan their home for many years to come.”