Apologies for the lack of an update in the last week or so. I felt it was important to wait on the application to be received/validated and then take action based on this. We are sitting at more than 12,000 signatures, which shows how important this building is to Glaswegians and music lovers beyond the city. I received emails last week from the case worker at Historic Environment Scotland and a Senior Planner with Development and Regeneration Services at Glasgow City Council, who were both sympathetic to the case, but obviously unable to comment or predict the outcome until the application and reports had been submitted. 

This evening I saw the attached article by Glasgow Live

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/full-extent-damage-fire-hit-15885003

and also heard a report on BBC Reporting Scotland that the building is "economically unsalvageable and unrepairable" and was extremely disappointed to hear this. I also thought about the fact that the Art School seems to have been just as badly damaged and yet the Art School will be rebuilt.

The planning application and related documents can be viewed here: https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PM6V47EXMLH00 

The report by Prime Structural Solutions can be viewed here: https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/online-applications/files/ECFC241556ED5F5FC831013C4A26502A/pdf/19_00266_LBA-REPORT_ON_O2_ABC_AND_ABC2-4067429.pdf

and the summary of damage and recommended work by Ramsay McMichael Consulting can be found here: https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/online-applications/files/17D9C9FA9EE121D52FD05A89B0E1B61A/pdf/19_00266_LBA-SUMMARY_OF_BUILDING_DAMAGE_AND_RECOMMENDED_WORKS-4067841.pdf

This news is obviously very disheartening, however I hope that we can turn this around to something positive. As encouraged by Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, we can submit correspondence to the planning committee and ask that, even if the building itself does require to be demolished due to the damage, that consideration be given to what happens to the site. 

It is encouraging to see that several people, including Alison Thewliss, MP and Sandra White, MSP have submitted correspondence in support of saving the building, or at the very least the facade of the building in any future development.

I would encourage as many people as possible to submit a letter or email to the Council as they are obliged to discuss if at least five objections or submissions are entered. Should you wish to submit a letter of representation to be taken into account, this should be submitted to the planning representations mailbox: Planning.Representations@drs.glasgow.gov.uk quoting the reference number 19/00266/LBA - Complete demolition of fire damaged listed building | 326 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow G2 3JA

Letters can be sent to the following address, again quoting the reference number  19/00266/LBA - Complete demolition of fire damaged listed building | 326 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow G2 3JA 

Development and Regeneration Services,                                      Glasgow City Council,                                                                            231 George Street
Glasgow
G1 1RX

Objections should be raised based on the City Plan. The current City Plan has a specific policy, CDP9, on the historic environment. It would be a valid planning ground to object that the demolition of a historic listed facade is in direct contradiction with the aims & intentions of CDP9.

HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT – CDP 9

The Council will protect, preserve and, where appropriate, conserve and/or enhance the historic environment, in line with Scottish Planning Policy, Historic Environment Scotland Policy Statement, and this policy together with associated supplementary guidance (SG), for the benefit of our own and future generations. For clarity, historic environment encompasses, in this context, world heritage sites, listed buildings, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, archaeological sites, Inventory and non-Inventory gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory battlefields. The Council will assess the impact of proposed developments that affect historic environment features and/or their settings according to the principles set out in relevant SG. The Council will not support development that would have an adverse impact on the historic environment, unless SG criteria are fully satisfied.

SG9 supports the above policy by providing guidance on the Historic Environment. Accordingly SG9 includes advice on:

• Design guidance for Listed Buildings and Conservations Areas

• Maintenance of Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

Please also see relevant areas, where the demolition of the building could be argued against. Feel free to use any of these in your submission.  

Town Centres - Promote town centres to be the focus for public transport networks by encouraging more people to visit and spend time there, by supporting a range of shops, services and community facilities, as well as increasing nearby population

City Centre - Recognise and support the unique position of the City Centre as the principal location for City-region scale shopping, leisure, tourism and other functions.

Built Heritage - Protect and enhance the built heritage as a core asset of a vibrant and distinctive place

Heritage - Protect and manage Glasgow’s heritage assets, and ensure that development enhances their character and features to contribute to the identity of local places.

Vacant Land - Promote the redevelopment of vacant and derelict land.

So, while the news may not be the best, I hope as many of you as possible remind Glasgow City Council of the history and importance of the building, in particular as a music venue in Glasgow, UNESCO City of Music. 

Thanks for your attention!