Latest news with #GSoA
STV News
16-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Plans to redevelop O2 ABC called in by Scottish Government
Plans to redevelop the fire-damaged O2 ABC site on Sauchiehall Street have been called in by the Scottish Government. Glasgow City Council has been informed that the decision has been taken due to the potential impact on the 'nationally important' A-listed Glasgow School of Art (GSoA). The city's planning committee approved urban regeneration development firm Vita Group's bid to replace the music venue with a public food hall and student flats last month. But the art school said the scheme would put the rebuild of the fire-hit Mackintosh building at 'significant risk' — a position that was supported by the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) also objected to the proposal as it believed the planned nine-storey building would affect the setting of the A-listed 'Mack' building, obscuring important views to and from it. As a result of HES' objection, Scottish Ministers had to be notified of the ruling and had a 28-day period from being notified to decide whether to call-in the application and make their own determination. A letter was sent to Glasgow City Council yesterday (July 15) which confirmed the 'application has been referred to the Scottish Ministers and that the decision of Ministers will be final'. A reporter will be appointed by the government to assess the case and they will then submit a report, with recommendations, for its consideration. The ABC venue was damaged by a fire at the Mackintosh building in 2018 and, along with the former Jumpin' Jaks nightclub, has been vacant since. LDRS Vita Group is planning to redevelop the old O2 ABC site on Sauchiehall Street. There would be student beds and a publicly-accessible foodhall and courtyard. A dangerous buildings notice was issued by the council in July last year due to 'immediate threat', and parts of the ABC, including its facade, have been knocked down. OBARCS (ABC) Ltd, the owners of the site, previously accused GSoA of 'standing in the way of progress'. The company, and property investment firm Urban Pulse, said the school was attempting to block a 'viable, respectful development plan'. James Patterson, director of Urban Pulse, speaking on behalf of OBARCS, said there are no concrete plans or a timeline for the refurbishment of the Mackintosh building. After the plan was approved, Professor Penny Macbeth, director and principal of the GSoA, said the art school had been 'clear and provided evidence' that the project would 'fundamentally compromise' the 'Mack'. She added: 'We hope that Ministers, taking cognisance of the significant impact to the internationally important Mackintosh building and its rebuilding, will exercise their powers purposefully, acknowledging that the setting, character and function of the Mackintosh building is unacceptably compromised.' STV News Construction teams have began tearing down the O2 ABC. Stuart Robertson, director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, also urged the Scottish Government to 'step in and overturn this decision'. He said: 'This approval places the commitment to the rebuilding of the Mackintosh building at significant risk and will set a dangerous precedent for our built heritage.' Vita Group's 'House of Social' project includes 356 student beds as well as a publicly-accessible foodhall, which would become an events space at night. Planners at the council had recommended the scheme was approved. They reported the proposal would have a 'negative impact on the historic environment', but the current 'derelict' site is having a 'negative impact… on the viability and vitality of the city centre as a whole'. At the planning meeting on June 17, there were requests for a hearing, where those for and against the proposal could have made their case, but councillors voted 6-4 in favour of making a decision on the day. They then voted 8-2 in favour of granting planning permission. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Scottish ministers to review Glasgow O2 ABC redevelopment plan
Plans to redevelop the fire-damaged O2 ABC site on Sauchiehall Street have been called in for review by the Scottish City Council was informed the decision had been taken due to the potential impact on the "nationally important" A-listed Glasgow School of Art (GSoA).The city's planning committee last month approved urban regeneration development firm Vita Group's bid to replace the music venue with a public foodhall and student the art school said the scheme would put the rebuild of the fire-hit Mackintosh building at "significant risk" - a position supported by the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) also objected to the proposal as it believed the planned nine-storey development would obscure important views of and from the 'Mack' building, As a result of HES's objection, Scottish ministers had to be notified of the ruling and had 28-days to decide whether to call-in the application and make their own Tuesday a letter was sent to Glasgow City Council which confirmed the "application has been referred to the Scottish ministers and that the decision of ministers will be final".A reporter will be appointed by the government to assess the case who will then submit a report with recommendations for ministerial ABC venue was damaged by a fire at the Mackintosh building in 2018 and, along with the former Jumpin' Jaks nightclub, has been vacant since.A dangerous buildings notice was issued by the council in July last year due to "immediate threat" and parts of the ABC, including its façade, have now been demolished. OBARCS (ABC) Ltd, the owners of the site, previously accused GSoA of "standing in the way of progress". The company and property investment firm Urban Pulse said the school was attempting to block a "viable, respectful development plan".James Patterson, director of Urban Pulse, speaking on behalf of OBARCS, said there were no concrete plans or a timeline for the refurbishment of the Mackintosh the plan was approved, Prof Penny Macbeth, director and principal of the GSoA, said the art school had been "clear and provided evidence" that the project would "fundamentally compromise" the 'Mack'.She added: "We hope that ministers, taking cognisance of the significant impact to the internationally important Mackintosh building and its rebuilding, will exercise their powers purposefully, acknowledging that the setting, character and function of the Mackintosh building is unacceptably compromised." Stuart Robertson, director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, also urged the Scottish government to "step in and overturn this decision".He said: "This approval places the commitment to the rebuilding of the Mackintosh building at significant risk and will set a dangerous precedent for our built heritage."Vita Group's 'House of Social' project includes 356 student beds as well as a publicly-accessible foodhall, which would become an events space at at the council had recommended the approval of the reported the proposal would have a "negative impact on the historic environment".But they added the current "derelict" site was having a "negative impact… on the viability and vitality of the city centre as a whole".At the planning meeting on 17 June there were requests for a hearing, where those for and against the proposal could have made their councillors voted 6-4 in favour of making a decision on the day. They then voted 8-2 in favour of granting planning permission. Story by Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter Drew Sandelands.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
O2 ABC redevelopment plan approved by Glasgow City Council
A popular Glasgow music venue devastated by a fire is to be turned into student accommodation. Glasgow City Council approved the proposal for a nine-storey accommodation block on the site of the former ABC building on Sauchiehall Street. The project received 130 objections, including from heritage claimed it would damage the views of any future redevelopment of the Glasgow School of Art's (GSoA) Mackintosh building, which was destroyed in the same blaze. However the majority of councillors agreed any negative impact was outweighed by the benefits of redeveloping the derelict site. The decision came a day after the owners of the ABC building and Jumpin Jak's next door criticised GSoA over its attempts to block the Patterson, director of property investment firm Urban Pulse, said the school was "standing in the way of progress" by objecting to the plans. Councillors voted 8-2 in favour of granting planning permission, which will see the building turned into a 'House of Social' will feature 356 student beds, a publicly-accessible food hall - which would become an events space at night - and a committee chairman Cllr Ken Andrew said he supported the move "with some regret" and added it could take 15 years for the Mackintosh to be Jill Pidgeon said the objections were "worthy" but felt she had to encourage bringing part of the street back into councillors Mhairi Hunter and Eva Bolander voted against the plan and said they could not ignore the impact on the Mackintosh building. A spokesman for the GSoA said it was "clear on our commitment to the rebuilding of the Mackintosh building" and the ABC development would put those plans "at significant risk".Mr Patterson, speaking on behalf of the ABC owners OBARCS, said there were no concrete plans or a timeline for the refurbishment of the Mackintosh argued the new proposal would would help protect the future for the area while leaving space for the Mackintosh to make a "potentially glorious return".However he also accused the GSoA of "a dereliction of basic neighbourly duty" by refusing to engage constructively with OBARCS since the added: "GSoA can't have it both ways. "They've contributed nothing but delay, while the community around them has paid the price. "It's time to move forward."Mr Patterson said the GSoA had been previously warned about the devastating impact of another fire in the area, following an initial blaze in 2014. There was a point in the early 20th century when the ABC and the Mackintosh School of Art were the best of known as the Hippodrome, it was home to a circus, where the animals were frequently escorted up Dalhousie Street and into a drawing both buildings are gone, devastated by a second fire at Glasgow School of Art in 2018. The shell of the school remains under wraps while an arbitration process with the insurers continues. The remains of the ABC were demolished last Glasgow City Council approved plans to build nine-storey student accommodation on the derelict site where the ABC stood. It's an emotive issue for a conservation area, blighted by two fires and concerned about what comes next.A total of 130 individuals and organisations objected to the plans including Glasgow School of Art, who said the new building would reduce the light and compromise the views of the school they plan to faithfully many of the councillors it was difficult to make a decision based on the needs of a building many years off completion, if at agreed it was a deeply emotive subject – and while it might impact on the neighbourhood and the existing historic buildings either side, it was "an acceptable impact" which could unlock the regeneration of the meeting heard that far from encroaching on the art school's boundaries, scaffolding from the Mackintosh was currently on the ABC site. But that's as far as the neighbourly relations go. In a statement released on behalf of the owners of the site they criticised Glasgow School of Art for blocking the proposal, and for failing to think of the wider point to a new courtyard, which would offer public access to a previously unseen site, as well as leaving space for the Mackintosh rebuild and creating a fire safe separation between the School of Art disagree. Like many of those who objected they believe Glasgow City Council has failed to see the wider picture and has put their plans to rebuild the Mackintosh at "significant risk."One of the conditions imposed by the committee today was that the Vita development include some of the decorative features of the original venue including the distinctive cast iron door frame. A reassuring glimpse of the old, amid the challenge of the new, for a community which lives too close to each other to be anything less than good neighbours.
Al Arabiya
12-02-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Neutral Swiss propose relaxing arms exports restrictions
The Swiss government on Wednesday proposed relaxing restrictions on arms exports to try to bolster its domestic industry and security policy, a sensitive move for the neutral country which has blocked the re-export of its weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. The cabinet said it sent a proposal to parliament to allow it to deviate from current restrictions 'in extraordinary circumstances', seeking leeway to adapt its arms export policy in accordance with changing geopolitical circumstances. Despite its long-held neutrality, Switzerland has traditionally been one of the world's biggest arms suppliers, selling ammunition and armored vehicles abroad. However, arms exports fell by more than a quarter in 2023, with critics blaming blocks on Spain, Denmark and Germany re-exporting Swiss-made guns and ammunition to Ukraine. 'This would make it possible to safeguard Switzerland's foreign or security policy interests,' the cabinet proposal said. 'In addition, it would make it possible to maintain an industrial capacity in Switzerland adapted to the needs of Swiss national defense.' Still, any changes will not allow Swiss weapons exports to Ukraine because of the Swiss war materials laws and neutrality laws. Switzerland does not allow arms exports if the destination country is involved in an internal or international conflict, or if it seriously violates human rights. Arms exports are also banned if there is a high risk that they will be used against civilians or passed on to an 'undesirable' final recipient. Switzerland's arms industry includes multinationals Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) and Rheinmetall ( as well as a host of smaller companies. The government's planned relaxation did not go far enough, said Swissmem, the association representing Swiss industry. 'In principle, the export of war materiel is still prohibited in the event of a crisis,' said Swissmem. 'Other countries do not want to rely on the government's goodwill when it comes to their security.' The Group for Switzerland without an Army (GSoA), an anti-militarist group, called the plan 'completely unacceptable.' 'Swiss weapons will more easily turn up in civil wars or countries committing grave human rights breaches,' said GSoA political secretary Roxane Steiger. 'This proposal goes against the Swiss tradition of neutrality and humanitarianism.' It is unclear whether parliament might agree to the proposal, which could still face a referendum if it is approved.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Neutral Swiss propose relaxing arms exports restrictions
By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss government on Wednesday proposed relaxing restrictions on arms exports to try to bolster its domestic industry and security policy, a sensitive move for the neutral country which has blocked the re-export of its weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. The cabinet said it sent a proposal to parliament to allow it to deviate from current restrictions "in extraordinary circumstances", seeking leeway to adapt its arms export policy in accordance with changing geopolitical circumstances. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Despite its long-held neutrality, Switzerland has traditionally been one of the world's biggest arms suppliers, selling ammunition and armoured vehicles abroad. However, arms exports fell by more than a quarter in 2023, with critics blaming blocks on Spain, Denmark and Germany re-exporting Swiss-made guns and ammunition to Ukraine. "This would make it possible to safeguard Switzerland's foreign or security policy interests," the cabinet proposal said. "In addition, it would make it possible to maintain an industrial capacity in Switzerland adapted to the needs of Swiss national defence." Still, any changes will not allow Swiss weapons exports to Ukraine because of the Swiss war materials laws and neutrality laws. Switzerland does not allow arms exports if the destination country is involved in an internal or international conflict, or if it seriously violates human rights. Arms exports are also banned if there is a high risk that they will be used against civilians or passed on to an "undesirable" final recipient. Switzerland's arms industry includes multinationals Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) and Rheinmetall ( as well as a host of smaller companies. The government's planned relaxation did not go far enough, said Swissmem, the association representing Swiss industry. "In principle, the export of war materiel is still prohibited in the event of a crisis," said Swissmem. "Other countries do not want to rely on the government's goodwill when it comes to their security." The Group for Switzerland without an Army (GSoA), an anti-militarist group, called the plan "completely unacceptable." "Swiss weapons will more easily turn up in civil wars or countries committing grave human rights breaches," said GSoA political secretary Roxane Steiger. "This proposal goes against the Swiss tradition of neutrality and humanitarianism." It is unclear whether parliament might agree to the proposal, which could still face a referendum if it is approved.
