Construction on Union St fire site might not start for several years

Construction on Union St fire site might not start for several years23 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePA MediaThe Union Corner site was destroyed by fire in MarchThe leader of Glasgow City Council has said construction work on the Union Corner site destroyed by fire earlier this year might not begin for five or six years. Susan Aitken added that the planning and consultation process regarding the land is likely to last until about 2030, partly because the wrecked building has a complicated ownership structure.She made the comments at an event organised by online newspaper The Glasgow Bell last week. Glasgow City Council said it was exploring options for the site in the short, medium and long term.A devastating fire broke out on Union Street on 8 March, initially starting in a vape shop on Union Street and then spreading further up the street. The building is managed by property company Stelmain on behalf of Dunaskin Properties, while the ground-floor retail unit where the fire began is owned by Afton Estates.Multiple ownership means it is likely to take time before development proposals start to be looked at.More stories from Glasgow & West ScotlandMore stories from ScotlandBBC Scotland News understands the council leader's estimated timescale is shared by other senior officials within the local authority.A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: "We are continuing to work on making the site safe – at this point, focusing on works on the western gable wall – with a view to reopening Union Street as quickly as possible. "Beyond that, we are working with the owners on how the site will look and feel and how it could be used in the short, medium and long-term."A recovery group has already been convened, which includes representatives of design and architecture companies.Only the façade of the building at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street was left standing after the fire in March.The building known as Union Corner, d...