The landmark building could be completed by 2007

The 39-storey complex is planned for the site of the former Strathclyde Regional Council headquarters in the city centre.

The 134-metre tower, in the shape of a tear-drop, will be nine metres above the Glasgow Science tower - currently the tallest in the country.

The project includes retail and office space, a swimming pool and housing.

The development, which has been given the name Elphinstone Place, would have more than 20,000 square metres of office and retail property.

Four glass-fronted penthouse flats would have an uninterrupted view across the city.

More than 200 luxury homes are planned, and the public would have access to a restaurant on the 34th floor.

The site, near the M8 motorway, is bounded by Newton Street, St Vincent Street and Elmbank Street.

Elphinstone Place will underline Glasgow's status as a great European city Ken Ross Elphinstone chief executive

Glasgow-based developer Elphinstone Group hopes to start demolishing the current buildings in 2005, with construction work starting in 2006. It is expected the development will be ready for occupation in 2008.

Elphinstone's chief executive, Ken Ross, said: "We are delighted to be given the go-ahead for Elphinstone Place.

"The project team have created a world-class design and a building which we believe will make Glasgow proud.

"It will transform and revitalise an important area of the city."

He added: "Elphinstone Place will provide new homes and offices and will underline Glasgow's status as a great European city, reflecting its growing optimism as an exciting place to live and work."

Although the building would be the tallest in Scotland, it would be a quarter of the height of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, which claims to be the world's tallest at 553 metres.