WORK is to begin on the highly anticipated The Range development in Drumchapel.

Construction is set to get under way early next year at the Great Western Retail Park off Great Western Road.

The new shop will be the popular home and garden store’s second location in Glasgow – joining the London Road shop.

It is understood the store is set to open in 2021.

Councillor Paul Carey, who has been working with the retailer since it confirmed it would take over the 4645 square metre space in 2019, has welcomed the news.

He said: “I have been working hard on this for a few years now and it has the support of both community councils – old Drumchapel and Drumchapel.

“It also has cross-party support within the ward and my understanding is that there are a few issues to be resolved and then The Range is hoping to commence with onsite construction work early in the new year.

“This will bring a number of much-needed jobs to the area.”

The site will include a garden area and a cafe.

It is not yet known how many jobs will be created.

Planning documents submitted in 2019 said the project will bring “long-overdue investment” for the Drumchapel area.

The shop will be built on the ground of the former Goodyear tyre factory, which closed more than two decades ago.

In documents submitted on behalf of Kier Property Developments in 2018, it was said: “The proposed development will deliver long-overdue investment for the

Drumchapel area. This is the one remaining area of land which remains undeveloped following the closure, over two decades ago, of the former Goodyear tyre factory.”

Councillor Elspeth Kerr added: “I am really happy to see the building for The Range starting.

“The Range is a fantastic shop with lots of different things all under the same roof and will prevent the need for local people to have to travel outwith Drumchapel and Old Drumchapel.

“While, at the same time, bringing in customers from elsewhere too, so more money will be spent into the local economy.

“There will also be more local jobs created which also helps the people from the local area.”

A spokeswoman for The Range confirmed the brand “intends” to open the store at some point in 2021, but no further details were made available.

The announcement comes after the retail park faced a blow with the closure of its Pizza Hut

restaurant.

The fast-food chain was forced to shut 29 eateries, putting 450 jobs at risk, following the nationwide lockdown.

The Range will join fellow retailers McDonald’s, B&Q, Pets at Home and Starbucks at the park.

Baillie Malcolm Balfour added: "I am really pleased that The Range are now moving forward with their plans to move into the Drumchapel retail park.

"This is something my fellow ward councillor Paul Carey and I have been working on for quite some time and it shows that, although we represent different parties, what can be achieved by working cross party on issues such as this.

"We did the same with other projects such as KFC and McDonald’s, each time brining much need jobs and units to Drumchapel and now The Range will bring even more to the area both in terms of jobs and a high quality low cost store.

"I know that both Paul and myself will continue to work together on more projects such as this to the area that we are proud to represent."