The revamp of a historic boathouse on the Clyde has moved a step closer.

City bosses yesterday approved plans for a new 99-year lease to the Clydesdale and Clyde Amateur Rowing Clubs for use the West Boathouse and surrounding land.

Under the terms of the agreement, the clubs will pay £750-a-year between them for the site following the completion of the £2.8m redevelopment.

That work will be carried out by the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT) who are set to install new changing facilities, lift access, multi-use spaces and a floating pontoon from next year.

Andrew McConnell, Project Development Officer, said: “This project is about making this important listed building a gateway for safe use of the Clyde."

The boathouse is a category B-listed building which sits in Glasgow Green and was built for the use of both rowing clubs in 1905.

As part of the work, the Trust will take over an area of Glasgow Green, which is not currently leased by the clubs, for a trailer park, rowing racks and an access route to pontoons.

The boathouse building will be redeveloped from a semi-detached unit into a fully shared space by 2020.

Both clubs have been paying £350-a-year since 1990 for use of the site but the new agreement will allow the council to transfer liability for maintenance and management of the building to the clubs.

The rental amount will be subject to five-yearly reviews which could change if council policy on concessional rents is changed.

Calton area councillor Greg Hepburn said he was “delighted” that work would go ahead adding that it was “very exciting”.

Since its creation in 1905, a host of well-known faces have used the boathouse.

Dame Katherine Grainger took her first ever seat in a boat at the West Boathouse while Sydney 2000 silver medallist Gillian Lindsay started her career at the facility.