A ROW has erupted between the Glasgow School of Art and the owners of the O2 ABC over new plans for the site.

The owners of the fire-ravaged Sauchiehall Street building have hit out at the Art School over their objections to new plans for the derelict site.

A document shared with the Glasgow Times says that the Glasgow School of Art (GSoA) haven’t been engaging in discussions and that they’re ‘acting almost like authoritarian-like dictators rather than neighbours’.

This comes after the GSoA told us last week that the plans for the O2 ABC site put the rebuild of their historic Mackintosh building at ‘significant risk’.

The council planning committee will meet tomorrow, June 17, to decide whether the Vita Group proposal, which involves mixed student accommodation, will go ahead.

The new plans for the site (Image: Vita Group)

READ MORE: ABC owners say Glasgow School of Art ‘ignored fire warning’ 

The ABC owner’s document states that: “We feel that, having carried out numerous redevelopment appraisals since the 2018 fire, the Vita redevelopment opportunity is the only viable and realistic proposition to have these fire-damaged sites redeveloped.

“The GSoA are guardians of the Mackintosh Building who were essentially in control when two devastating fires started, leading directly to this situation, yet they are objecting and seeking support for their objections against the only practical redevelopment opportunity available to address the devastation that the fires emanating from their building caused.

“They have not at any stage since the fires in their building engaged or attempted to engage with their neighbours to enquire about the devastation that was caused on numerous occasions, resulting from the fire in the Mackintosh building, which they managed and controlled.

“Nor have they demonstrated to their neighbours that they have any proposed redevelopment plans or a viable funding solution to redevelop the devastated Mackintosh shell, yet they appear content to object and seek support for their objections to block the redevelopment of the fire-damaged buildings on neighbouring sites.

“They appear content to hold up proper, meaningful, and viable redevelopment of these important fire-ravaged sites based on a theoretical potential loss of daylight complaint to rooms that no longer exist in any form whatsoever.”

O2 ABC site owners clash with Glasgow School of Art (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: ABC owners brand Mack rebuild a ‘pastiche’ in war of words 

The Glasgow School of Art refuted the claims that they’d not been engaging in discussions.

They said: “We have been clear that we recognise the redevelopment of the site is complex, but that a solution can be found that delivers financial viability without detriment to the Category A-listed Mackintosh Building.

“Both projects working coherently and respecting the international importance of not only the Mackintosh but neighbouring important built heritage can be positive, and to this end, we tried to work with Vita to find a solution.

“We spent considerable time meeting with VITA to discuss thoroughly their plans and find solutions, and they presented to the Mackintosh Project Board on their proposals with positive discussion and follow-up engagement.

“To suggest we have refused to engage constructively since 2018 or we have delayed work on their site is both factually incorrect and disingenuous.”

The fire devastated both buildings (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Glasgow reacts to O2 ABC site plan urging rethink as city ‘deserves much better’

The owners of the O2 ABC site also claimed that the GSoA ‘ignored fire warnings’ before the second blaze caused further damage.

James Patterson, Director of Urban Pulse, speaking on behalf of the owners, said: “In 2016, we warned the GSoA that another fire would be catastrophic for the entire block.

“That warning was ignored — and the result was total devastation of the entire city block, including the much-loved ABC.

“Now, the very organisation whose building caused that destruction is standing in the way of progress.”

The Glasgow School of Art responded: “If there were concerns, these should have been raised with Glasgow City Council as part of the planning applications and building warrant approvals submitted for the Mackintosh restoration at that time, which were subsequently approved.

“Management and responsibility for the building at the time of the 2018 fire was with Keir Construction (Scotland) Ltd as the appointed contractor.”

The ABC owners said: “The latest fire caused total and almost immeasurable life-changing trauma and devastation to our lives, and we are still dealing with the aftermath of this tragic event.

“It’s had an enormous negative impact.”