The Scottish Prison Service has bought land to build a new Barlinnie.
A replacement for the overcrowded Glasgow jail is due to be built by 2025.
The SPS said a planning application had been submitted for a 22-hectare site owned by the National Grid in the city’s Germiston area.
In October, a parliament committee heard the Scottish Government had agreed to fully fund a new ‘superjail’.
The SPS said: “SPS has recently concluded missives to acquire a 22-hectare site from National Grid at Provenmill, in the Germiston area of Glasgow.
“The site acquisition will be conditional upon SPS obtaining planning permission in principle for a new prison to replace HMP Barlinnie.
“A planning application has now been submitted to Glasgow Council in this regard.”