The meadows were council-run football pitches and tennis courts that fell into disrepair in the early 90s. Over the last 20 years residents have planted seeds, built treehouses and renovated buildings and the meadow is now much used by local nurseries and families.

The £10 million proposal from developers New City Vision would see the area bulldozed under plans to the new flats.

However, the council has also, in principle, backed a proposal from campaigners who have maintained the land to continue to use it as a public green space.

The decision means the council’s executive committee must now make a judgment on both plans. It also means the Scottish Government will likely get involved and call in the New City Vision plan for closer scrutiny.

During the planning meeting last week, the chair of the Children’s Wood charity that runs the meadow, Emily Cutts, told councillors: “We have a strong local community that are behind this space. Our city’s motto is ‘People make Glasgow’. It’s initiatives like the Children’s Wood that make people want to live here.”

A council spokesman said the new flats were needed: “The approval of this planning application from New City Vision will deliver both much-needed family homes in the West End and improve the North Kelvinside pitches facility, as well as a substantial receipt for the public purse in a time of unprecedented financial constraints for local government.”