Preparatory work has got underway on the major £200m Collegelands regeneration scheme in Glasgow, which will be developed in two phases and will act as a catalyst for future projects.

Glasgow City Council (GCC) and property company Dawn Group will lead the plans as part of a joint venture with Buckinghamshire-based Chiltern Group, which aims to transform the former College Goods Railway Yard and an area of derelict land that has remained empty for quarter of a century. The first phase of construction on the Collegelands development is expected to start in February 2010, which includes a 200-bedroom hotel operated by Ramada Encore, 250 student accommodation units and 102,000sq ft (9,476sq m) of office space.

Stage One is expected to be completed by summer 2011 and the council has already secured a 25-year lease on office space, which will be used by the arms-length body, Culture and Sport Glasgow, and GCC's development and regeneration services. GCC leader Steven Purcell said: "Collegelands beginning on-site is a major regeneration boost within Glasgow, and the East End in particular, which will see the creation of a new gateway to this area.

"This development not only fulfils economic and inward investment aims but also meets wider social and community regeneration objectives." The Collegelands scheme will complement efforts to create a new gateway to the city's East End, which also includes the Clyde Gateway plans and the construction of the athletes' village, National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome for use at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.