Fire-damaged O2 ABC served demolition notice

Architect Niall Murphy, who is also director at Glasgow City Heritage Trust, said he was “saddened” to see the notice served.

He said: “Though I am keen to see the ABC site regenerated and the blight affecting Sauchiehall Street addressed, I very much hoped that architect Charles McNair’s classical entrance could be saved.

“It is worth retaining because it is a great example of the architecture of Glasgow’s golden age of cinema and incorporates one of the best surviving Saracen Foundry cast iron building screens. Other examples of these include Selfridges in London.

“This grand entrance would be a handsome adornment to any new development while reminding Glaswegians of the ABC’s fantastic social heritage. It would also be an excellent fit with emerging plans to turn Sauchiehall Street into a new cultural quarter for Glasgow.”

Glasgow City Council said temporary restraints were installed to reduce external danger after the fire damaged the stability of the façade, but it remained the owner’s responsibility to maintain the building.

It said a recent inspection prompted the need for a dangerous building notice to be served to protect public safety.