Scotland's national "theatre without walls" will finally have a permanent home.

The National Theatre of Scotland is to create its first permanent headquarters in a former cash and carry building in the north of Glasgow in a nearly £6m project to build a "creative factory".

The home - not a theatre, but a base for rehearsal rooms, community drama and education work, technical, office and costume facilities - is the NTS's first permanent home in its nine year history and will include one of the largest rehearsal rooms in Scotland.

The building, called The Blue Shed, has been disused since 2002 and lies in the Speirs Wharf area of Glasgow close to other buildings operated by Scottish Opera, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and neighbours the cultural hub of the Whisky Bond.

One of Scotland's leading architect firms, Gareth Hoskins Architects of Glasgow, will lead the redevelopment.

The architects will reduce the building to its frame and build on its footprint to create the new building.

The total estimated cost for the new building is £5,875,000, with £3,454,481 of that price already secured.

This includes £2m from the Scottish Government, £500,000 from Glasgow City Council, nearly £470,000 from the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and £400,000 from The Robertson Trust

There has also been donations of £75,000 from The Wolfson Foundation and £10,000 from The Binks Trust.

In addition, the Scottish Government has agreed to provide a loan funding facility to enable the NTS start the project.

The NTS, which works with theatres across Scotland, will try and raise the additional money from trusts and foundations and will also launch an appeal for major gifts to reduce the need for loan financing.

The new building, beside a canal and off the Craighall Road, contains 40,000 square foot of space over two floors.

The space will allow the NTS to have all its "back room" facilities and work under the one roof, avoiding the cost of commercial rentals.

It will also be the space where the company's plays are "devised, developed and rehearsed", and also where sets and costumes can be made and stored.

It is due to open in the spring of 2016 and be home to a full time staff of 43, with ample space for freelance project workers, writers, and visiting artists.

The costume department will be able to store hundreds of costumes, a dyeing room, laundry and cutting room.

The facility will include three rehearsals rooms.

Laurie Sansom, artistic director of the NTS, said: "For the first time ever, we have the opportunity to create a space that brings together our company, our colleagues and all our communities.

"A place of imagination, learning and play.

"A space from which we can begin to fulfil our ambitions, not just for the National Theatre of Scotland but for the wider theatre community and the entire nation."