Architect appointed to bring Union Corner back into use this year after devastating fire

An architect has been appointed to bring Union Corner back into use after it was destroyed by a devastating fire.

The blaze broke out in a vape shop on Union Street near the station on March 8, tearing through a Victorian-era building that has since been demolished.

Months of disruption have followed around Scotland’s busiest train station, with works to demolish, remove scaffolding, clear the sites and stabilise the gable walls to be completed later this month.

The building housed several businesses that were gutted by the fire, prompting a £10m commitment from the Scottish Government to support recovery efforts.

The council has now appointed an architectural practice – O’DonnellBrown – to develop a concept design for the interim use of the site for the next few years.

The aim is to provide an approach to return activity to the site in the next four years while “long-term aspirations” for the site are developed.

Initial return of the site is expected later this year. The council said this may happen in phases.

The council said it is considering proposals to transform the area around Central Station.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The final and permanent development of the fire site will take time – but neither the council nor the owners are prepared to see such a crucial city centre space lie empty while that takes shape.

“Finding an appropriate ‘meanwhile’ use for the site, which doesn’t simply mask the damage but actually attracts people back to this part of the Central Station quarter, is going to be vitally important to support its ongoing recovery.

“I’m delighted we have expert, local partners working on that already – with the expectation that we will start to see the site coming back into use this year.”