EARLY plans for redevelopment of the high-profile former 02 ABC venue on Sauchiehall Street have been unveiled.
Vita Group want to demolish the fire-damaged premises and build student accommodation and a food hall with performance space, under their House of Social brand.
On their consultation website they state: “It is an exciting opportunity to bring investment, footfall and animation to both Sauchiehall Street and Glasgow
“A key element of the proposal is a ground floor food hall. Open to the public, this vibrant space combines great Glasgow food, drinks and music.
“A range of stands will bring favourite and new food and drink offers, alongside performance space for Glasgow’s music scene, working with local and upcoming Glaswegian musicians to give them a platform to perform.
“The plans will also create a new external courtyard for students and the wider community. This is located to the rear of the block and provides an appropriate setting for the adjacent Mac building.
“The student accommodation is designed for second and third-year students who have established friendship groups.
“Each ‘House’ is centred around a generous open plan kitchen and lounge space, designed to bring housemates together with large ensuite bedrooms on either side. There will be circa 371 student beds.
Vita continue: “The ABC was previously one of the city’s busiest and most renowned live music venues, before it was devastated by the Glasgow School of Art fire in 2018.
“With extensive fire damage to ABC, retaining the building or its façade is not considered to be feasible due to the design, material condition, and strength validation challenges uncovered through a series of surveys and structural reports undertaken across the intervening period.
“The site demolition of both ABC and Jumpin Jaks does however offer the opportunity to develop a cohesive response for the site that interacts with both Sauchiehall Street and Glasgow School of Art as one unified city block.”
It’s anticipated that a planning application will be submitted in April.
The C-listed building was badly damaged by the massive blaze which broke out in Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh building in June 2018.
