Glasgow’s historic ABC building to be demolished
![Glasgow’s historic ABC building to be demolished](https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/uploads/Sauchiehall%20Street.jpg)
The ABC building on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street is to be fully demolished after the historic venue was served with a dangerous building notice.
The former nightclub, music venue and cinema was devastated by a fire that tore through the Glasgow School of Art in June 2018. It has lain derelict since the fire spilled over to its roof, tearing through the B-listed structure and the adjoining Jumping Jacks pub.
Last month, development firm Vita Group submitted plans to turn the site into student flats and a food court.
Now a sign has been posted outside the former entrance stating that all unstable areas of the structure will be demolished.
Glasgow City Council said it served the dangerous building notice “to protect public safety” and to “address the ongoing concerns” surrounding the continuing deterioration of the building.
![Glasgow’s historic ABC building to be demolished](https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/uploads/Sauchiehall%20Street%202.jpg)
The notice requires developer OBARCS to “demolish and remove the front and side façades along with their immediately attached floor and roof structures along with any other unstable, collapsed or affected and adjoining construction, fixtures and fittings”.
According to the notice, demolition work “must be commenced by September 30 and the work completed by December 9”.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “Following the fire in the building in June 2018 which affected the stability of the façade, temporary restraints were installed by the council to reduce the external danger posed to the public and which permitted Sauchiehall Street to re-open. These in turn provided time for the owners to consider their future plans as it remained their responsibility to maintain the building.
“In recent months, new inspection was undertaken due to the ongoing situation and with no works having been undertaken on the building. It was found that due to continued internal deterioration affecting the façade, a section of safety exclusion zone had to be re-introduced on Sauchiehall Street.
“As the building was continuing to deteriorate having been open to the elements for so long, the owners were informed that a dangerous building notice would be served to address the ongoing concerns.”
![Glasgow’s historic ABC building to be demolished](https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/uploads/Sauchiehall%20Street%20Vita%20Group%20Haus2.jpg)
Historic Environment Scotland said: “In 2019 we objected to an application for the proposed demolition of the category C listed O2 ABC building in Glasgow.
“However, having reviewed further information regarding the condition of the building, we accepted that the majority of it, including most of the front elevation, could not be retained in a meaningful way. On that basis, we removed our objection.”
Under Vita Group’s plans, the fire-damaged building was to be demolished to make way for 356 student bed spaces all clustered around communal kitchens — 306 beds provided by way of four, five and six-bed student clusters, plus 50 studios.
A foodhall would be at ground and mezzanine levels. There would be a courtyard for students and the wider community.
![Glasgow’s historic ABC building to be demolished](https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/uploads/Sauchiehall%20Street%20Vita%20Group%20Haus3.jpg)
A design statement included with the planning application from Haus Collective explained: “The ABC was previously one of the city’s busiest and most renowned live music venues, before it was devastated by the Glasgow School of Art fire in 2018.
“With extensive fire damage to ABC, retaining the building or its façade is not considered to be feasible due to the design, material condition, and strength validation challenges uncovered through a series of surveys and structural reports.
“The demolition of both ABC and [the former] Jumpin’ Jak’s [nightclub] does however offer the opportunity to develop a cohesive response for the site that interacts with both Sauchiehall Street and Glasgow School of Art as one unified city block.”