Demolition work has begun on the ABC building on Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street.

As reported by The Herald, campaigners looking to save the former cinema and music venue's iconic art deco façade feared the structure could be torn down as soon as this week.

The building was badly damaged in the second of two fires at the Glasgow School of Art in June 2018, and last month a dangerous buildings notice was issued to its owners, requiring them to have it demolished by December 9.

Work has now begun to demolish the building and surrounding structures, with an excavator on site at the ABC.

An excavator on site at the 02 ABC in GlasgowAn excavator on site at the 02 ABC in Glasgow (Image: Newsquest)

The process is expected to take several days.

It's understood there will not have to be any closure of Sauchiehall Street while the demolition takes place, with the demolition to see the building collapsed toward to the north toward Renfrew Street.

Council planners have ruled “full or partial retention of this building is not viable”, despite calls to save the art deco façade on the former cinema.

Originally submitted in 2019, the application to knock down the building from owners Obarcs No1 LLP received more than 50 objections.

However, a report stated that visits to the site in March and June of this year showed "further deterioration", with the order that demolition work begin by September 30.

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Writing in the Herald on Tuesday, campaign group Save Britain's Heritage urged its owners to reconsider.

A letter said: "We call on the current owners of the ABC Cinema, OBARCS (ABC) Ltd, and future developer Vita Group to save the eye-catching portico entrance of this Glasgow landmark and retain it as part of future proposals for this site.   

"This former cinema, which sits right next door to the world-famous Glasgow School of Art is under imminent threat of demolition.  

"This Category C-listed building of cultural significance is defined by its iconic art deco entrance designed in 1929 by one of Scotland's celebrated cinema architects, C. J. McNair. This building has been the site of entertainment of many different kinds for generations of Glaswegians. It has changed and adapted over the years, from panorama, to circus, to ice rink, to dance hall, to cinema, to music venue. It was the site of Glasgow's first ever moving picture show. 

"We urge the current owners and future developers to respect not bulldoze Glasgow’s architectural heritage. Work with a conservation engineer to save not just fragments but the whole solid central entrance to this much-loved building. Future generations will thank you."

Demolition has begun at the 02 ABC in GlasgowDemolition has begun at the 02 ABC in Glasgow (Image: Newsquest)

In July plans were submitted to create student accommodation and a downstairs food hall on the site.

Urban regeneration specialist Vita Group said: "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."

Opened in 1929 as the ABC cinema, the building was designed by the architect CJ McNair and stood on the site of what had been Scotland's largest diorama.

Before its use as a cinema it was the location of Hengler's Circus, an ice skating rink and a dance hall.

Following its closure as a cinema in 1998 and 1999, it was refitted to become a music venue, with David McBride of Regular Music winning permission to create a venue holding 1,300.

It re-opened in the summer of 2005 with an event headlined by Roddy Frame.

Reviewing, The Herald said: "The ABC itself is a superb addition to the facilities in Style-city. The main auditorium is blessed with great sound and sightlines, the bars and toilet provision generous.

"It is big enough to feel important and small enough to feel intimate.

"ABC2 downstairs, where the Buff Club DJs spun funk and soul discs into the small hours, is likely - like the upstairs Polar Bar - to become a place to be seen."

That summer it would host Mogwai, US pop-punk stars Sum 41 and, in October, an on the rise Arctic Monkeys.

Other artists to grace the stage included Paramore, Glasvegas, Paolo Nutini, Kendrick Lamar and Public Enemy.