The 12,500-seat arena, designed by London-based architects Foster and Partners, will be part of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) and the news will strengthen the city’s bid to put on the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The new site could host gymnastics and netball, while the SECC itself could be used for boxing, netball and weightlifting.

Glasgow 2014 bid director, Derek Casey, said: “The new arena has always been a key part of our bid and now that it has been given the go ahead, it allows us to say with even more confidence that we will have the facilities in place to play host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

According to Mike Closier, group chief executive of the SECC, the arena will also be used as a concert venue, to capitalise on Scotland’s growing arena concert market.

“The concert-going public will be as pleased as we are that we have finally received planning permission for this amazing arena,” he said. “It really will be one of the best in the UK, if not Europe.”

The arena is at the centre of the SECC’s QD2 masterplan, which also received outline planning permission. The QD2 scheme includes plans for a Kerzner International regional casino and a public square capable of hosting outdoor events for up to 25,000 people.

Work on the arena is scheduled to begin later this year, to be completed by 2010. Details: www.secc.co.uk

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