The land earmarked for the project is currently empty

The Renfrew Riverside project is expected to create 8,000 jobs and attract new businesses into the area.

Included in the plans are more than one million square feet of business space, 2,000 new homes and leisure facilities.

A public park and riverside walkway will be put in place along with an indoor real snow ski centre.

Restaurants, shops and a cinema are also planned.

Renfrewshire Council said the attraction of the area was not just the reclamation of a 200-acre brownfield site, but the 8,000 permanent jobs it expected to be created.

'Lasting impression'

Council leader Jim Harkins said: "This is an innovative, far-sighted partnership that brings together five major public and private sector organisations focused on the regeneration of one of the most important strategic locations in Scotland.

"It represents a major opportunity for us all to work together to transform the area and make a lasting impression on the quality of our environment and secure substantial employment opportunities for our people."

Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), which owns the Braehead complex, is involved in the partnership.

Pacific Quay, another part of the Clydeside regeneration

The company's Richard Cable said: "About 10 years ago, Braehead was a brownfield site.

"Since then �500m has been invested in the regeneration and Braehead is now a significant economic powerhouse, generating hundreds of millions per year for Scotland's economy.

"Our company has enormous confidence in Renfrewshire and is delighted to be contributing to the transformation of Renfrew Riverside."

The project is expected to take 10 years to complete.

The shopping centre at Braehead, which opened in September 1999, has already brought a new lease of life to what was previously wasteland.