Cathkin Brae cycling hub given funding approval

The £1.05 million grant would help create the Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike and Activity Centre in the derelict B-listed St Martin’s Church.

It is due to open in 2017 and include cycle hire and repair, space for clubs, a shop, cafe, climbing wall and soft play area for children.

The HLF has awarded a “first round pass” for the money, which “endorses the outline proposals”, to the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and Ardenglen Housing Association.

It includes £178,900 for developing detailed plans, which must be submitted within two years.

Glasgow City Council has already pledged some £1m towards the £4.1m project, with the rest being sought from other bodies.

The former Catholic church was completed in 1961 on a sloping site at the foot of Cathkin Braes, and designed by renowned architects Gillespie, Kidd and Coia.

A spokesman for the trust, which is leading the development, said: “The local community were very keen to get it completed in time for the Games, but that was always an ambitious timetable.”

Colin McLean, the head of the HLF in Scotland, said: “This is an exciting project which has been driven by the enthusiasm of the local people of Castlemilk who want to see this empty historic building brought back to life.

“What better way to do that than to build on the incredible success of the mountain biking at Cathkin Braes during the Commonwealth Games.”

Glasgow Lord Provost Sadie Docherty said: “Glasgow’s first purpose-built international mountain bike course at Cathkin Braes is already a permanent legacy from this summer’s Commonwealth Games - providing world class facilities for the people of Glasgow.”

The 3.5-mile course was used by 60 mountain bikers from 18 nations during the Games in July, with the events watched by 10,000 spectators.