Glasgow's Union Corner site to be brought back into use this year

Glasgow's Union Corner site, which was destroyed by fire in March, is expected to be brought back into use later this year.

Architects have been appointed to develop plans for the area, next to Central Station, until it can be fully redeveloped.

This could include temporary structures and installation projects.

The city council has also announced that all the roads and pavements around the site will be open again before the Commonwealth Games begin on 23 July.

The category B listed building on Union Corner - erected in 1851 - was gutted by the fire, with the surviving shell subsequently demolished.

Some of the nearby area - including the main entrance to Central Station and the crossroads at Union Street, Renfield Street and Gordon Street - is still closed off while work to make the site safe continues.

However, most of Gordon Street is now open to pedestrians again and the council has said that the remaining pavements and roads will be open before the games begin in three weeks. The date has yet to be announced.

Council leader Susan Aitken has said that a permanent structure is not expected to be built on the gap site for five or six years.

But plans will be developed to bring the site back into use in the coming months.

Aitken 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."

The council has appointed O'DonnellBrown architects to develop a concept design for the site until a permanent building is constructed.

The proposals could feature commercial and cultural uses, temporary structures and installations.

O'DonnellBrown director Jennifer O'Donnell said the firm was aiming to "develop an approach that reflects the site's importance within Glasgow's city centre".

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said that bringing the site back into use would "help improve the appearance and vibrancy of a key location that attracts significant footfall".

He added: "While this is an important step forward, we look forward to seeing continued momentum towards a long-term solution that realises the full potential of this prominent site."

David Cook, chief executive of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, said: "The long-term solution will inevitably take time due to the complexities and multiple ownerships, so getting life back into this vital part of the city centre before that will be welcomed by all Glaswegians."