Demolition of Union Street building facade ravaged by fire begins

The demolition of the facade of a building on Union Street in Glasgow following a devastating fire has begun.

The blaze last Sunday began in a shop and spread through the building and around the corner, destroying the landmark Union Corner building.

It forced Glasgow Central Station, Scotland’s busiest railway station, to close. The station’s high-level partially reopened on Wednesday.

Following a major operation by hundreds of firefighters, the site was passed over to Glasgow City Council to complete the demolition.

STV News

STV News

The facade, left standing following the blaze, is now being torn down.

The council confirmed earlier this week that chimney work at the building was complete.

Raymond Barlow, head of building standards in the city, told STV News that the structure was “fatally compromised”.

He said it wasn’t possible to set a definite timetable for the completion of the works, but that it would take weeks.

“The facade needs to come down before we can consider, certainly, the entrances on Gordon Street can reopen,” Mr Barlow said.

First Minister John Swinney announced a financial package worth up to £10m to help the council, businesses and agencies “rebuild and renew” in the aftermath of the devastating blaze.

STV News

The council will administer the scheme by engaging with local businesses to understand how they have been affected.

Glasgow & West

Scottish Government pledges £10m to businesses affected by Union Street fire

More than 71 Glasgow businesses have been impacted by the blaze that occured on Sunday afternoon.

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