TWO rundown council-owned sites worth more than £12million are to be sold for new housing.

The sites in the East End and West End of Glasgow have lain empty and derelict for years.

But the city council has now agreed to sell both to developers who intend to build around 800 new homes.

Bellway Homes plans 700 properties on a site in Carntyne plagued by fly-tipping.

And Kier Homes wants to build luxury houses on the site of an old school in Scotstoun.

The Bellway development, at the junction of Myreside Street and Rigby Street, formerly housed factories.

A spokesman for the company, which has begun clearing the site, said it is too early to give a total cost.

However it is believed the project to transform one of the most neglected areas of the city could total £35m.

A number of types of homes are planned including flats, terraces, townhouses, semi-detached and detached.

Myreside Street, close to a special needs school and the Forge shopping centre was for a time home to around 10,000 illegally dumped tyres.

Norman Yardley, regional director for Bellway Homes, said: "We anticipate the build programme will commence in early spring, with first occupancy by late autumn.

"The masterplan not only includes the provision of 700 new homes, but Bellway is also committed to providing a number of environmental and infrastructure improvements which will benefit the area's existing and future residents.

"We have consistently proven our ability to transform brownfield sites into new communities."

A city council spokesman said it would boost the regeneration of the area.

She added: "This development represents a significant step forward for the East End and will add further momentum to the regeneration of the area.

"It is very encouraging that a site which has been vacant for several years, and often considered undevelopable, is now to be brought back into use to provide much-needed homes for the area."

The 70 acre site in the East End will be developed in three phases. City council development and regeneration director Steve Inch said: "This is a very significant development for the East End and will occupy land, some of which has been empty for 30 years.

"This is an opportunity to bring it back into use."

Kier Homes is also planning to build houses on the site of the former Victoria Drive Secondary School in Scotstoun which closed in 1998. Work is expected to begin on the site later this month with the first sales launch next month.

The development, which is to be known as Victoria Square, will have 72 homes in a combination of three and four-bedroom semi-detached townhouses and two-bedroom apartments.

Kier Homes sales and marketing director Isobel Ferguson said: "We are delighted to have secured this site which is in such a highly desirable location.

"This part of Scotstoun has an abundance of beautiful traditional properties and has always enjoyed a good reputation in the city.

"The site is perfectly placed for travel into the city centre and its proximity to Partick and Clydebank.

"The local retail parks and indeed the much-acclaimed Victoria Park itself mean buyers will have the best of both worlds practically on their doorstep." HEADING GOES HERE FIONA MCKENZIE wants a school built on the site � ANNE NENASEVA was delighted about the plans � JOHN PHILLIPS is a bit sceptical about the news � THE GLEBLOCKA family want kids' facilities built Mixed reaction on site plans

DEVELOPMENT of the eyesore site in Carntyne today received a warm welcome.

Local Councillor Pat Chalmers said the homes would complement other regeneration projects underway or in the pipeline for the East End She said: "This has been a long time coming. But there are many other changes taking place in the area and the housing on Myreside Street will be a considerable bonus."

Last year, bosses of Bellway Homes met local people to outline their plans for the site.

Gartcraig community council chairman Margaret Brawley said: "The local people seem quite happy with the plan."

However, there was a mixed reaction from Scotstoun residents about the plans to redevelop the site of the old Victoria Drive School.

Anne Nenaseva, 31, who lives a few streets away, was delighted.

She said: "This place has been ugly for so long. It doesn't really matter what they build."

But the news has angered other residents who say housing is not the best use of the site.

Fiona McKenzie, 25, of Scotstoun said: "I'm a former pupil of Victoria Drive and I still have a piece of the building at home. I'd rather see a new school on the site."

John Phillips, 61, lives in a flat which looks directly on to the site which has been derelict since 1998.

Data inputter Mr Phillips said: "We've been told developers would move in and nothing came of it. So I'll take this with a pinch of salt."

Daria and Slawek Glebocka accompanied by daughter Marta, 5, said: "I don't care what they build but it would be good if there were facilities for kids."