Aiming to make the city centre more attractive for walkers, Glasgow City Council is about to prepare a feasibility study into the scheme, which would follow work to widen pavements in nearby Sauchiehall Street.

Under the plans by architects Keppie Design, a roof park would be built over the M8 at Charing Cross and is expected to cover the deep M8 cutting south from Tay House, which is built across the motorway on an unfinished bridge south of Sauchiehall Street.

The overall aim of the framework is to link Glasgow city centre with the west end and remove the barrier created by the M8.

The proposals are part of the Sauchiehall Garnethill Regeneration Framework which include two other projects to improve the city centre.

Work is now underway for the three key projects to gauge their feasibility and the image has been unveiled for what the new Charing Cross rooftop park could potentially look like.

The ambitious plans for the public space above the M8, however, are yet to be approved and the design stage has not yet begun.

The procurement process is expected to start in late spring and the actual investigations and modelling is expected to begin autumn.

That work will include traffic modelling to take into account heavily congested roads around the area and prioritise pedestrians.

A final decision will then be made at committee in or around summer 2018.

Leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Frank McAveety, said: “This is a truly inspiring project, but also one that is complex as it is ambitious.

“We must get the groundwork right and take time to create something that benefits the city while delivering a new public space that attracts and connects people and places.

“Coupled with the other projects coming forward as part of the Sauchiehall and Garnethill regeneration project will ensure that we make this a prominent place in the city’s life.”

Keppie design director, David Ross, said: “Our vision is of a vibrant mix of people-focused inner city connections and public spaces where transport infrastructure isn’t developed at the cost of its urban realm.

“That took us to the Mitchell Library, and the disconnect of the city grid created by the wound of the M8.

“As part of the bigger vision, we had some ideas about how this wound could be healed, but without losing the necessary accessibility the city needs in order to function.”