People should expect progress at fire-hit site in Glasgow, says council leader

People should not have to be “endlessly patient” to see progress on the site next to Glasgow Central station which was destroyed in last month’s fire, the city council’s leader has said.

Susan Aitken said various ideas for the future of the Union Corner site showed promise, including a hotel or a residential development.

The fire began in a vape shop on Union Street on Sunday March 8 before spreading through the building and around the corner, leading to the structure collapsing.

Only the facade of the B-listed Victorian building at the junction with Gordon Street was left standing but it was later demolished due to safety fears.

Ms Aitken, the SNP leader of Glasgow City Council, spoke to the Glasgow Times newspaper and was asked about the pace of redeveloping the site.

She said the issue of the building’s ownership was a “complication”, saying she believed it would be best to concentrate ownership in the public sector.

One option could be for the council to take over the site through a compulsory purchase order before transferring it to another public sector body.

Ms Aitken said the public should not have to put up with years without action, saying: “I think people will need to be patient, yes, absolutely. But they shouldn’t be endlessly patient.

“They should be looking for progress and they should be asking what progress is being made.”

She said various ideas showed potential, including a “grand hotel” and a residential development with “sought-after” apartments on the upper floors.

A recovery group including representatives from Network Rail and the Scottish Government has been set up to chart a future for the site.

On March 25, all train services resumed at Glasgow Central after the fire tore through the neighbouring building.

The main part of the station was shut for more than a week while demolition work continued on the fire-damaged building, though platforms seven to 15 were brought back into use on Wednesday March 18.