Owners of the former Robertson’s building on Dundee’s Barrack Street say they remain committed to developing the site after a devastating fire.
Structured House Group, the development company which owns the building, said in a statement it was “deeply saddened” to see it destroyed.
A spokesman for the group said: “Thankfully the emergency services reacted quickly, and we are grateful that no-one was hurt bringing the fire under control.
“Our thanks again go to all the emergency services involved.”
The fire on November 12 destroyed the majority of building, buckling the internal steel frame and burning away the roof and floors.
Work to tear the remainder of the structure down started on Wednesday morning after council building inspectors ruled the building a public safety risk.
Dundee City Council said it would meet the costs of demolition work before seeking to recoup from the owner.
Asked about this, a spokesman for the Glasgow-based company owned by Craig Inglis, said: “Our priority at the moment is to support Dundee City Council with whatever actions they feel are necessary to ensure the safety of the public and re-open restricted areas.
‘We are liaising with our insurers’
“We are liaising with our insurers and the council at this early stage however the priority at the moment is making the site safe.”
SHG has made several different proposals for the building since 2015, when a plan to demolish it and build student accommodation and a restaurant was met with opposition from locals.
The latest, submitted earlier this year, was in the final stages.
The company says a fresh planning application will now be submitted in due course.
The statement added: “Structured House Group have been liaising with Dundee City Council over plans for Willison House for several years and were in the process of finalizing a planning application retaining the listed façade as a focal point, reflecting the significance the building has played in the lives of the people of Dundee for almost 100 years.
“We are extremely disappointed that this will now not be the case however fully support Dundee City Council’s decision that the structure was not possible to retain.
“We will be reviewing our plans and will submit a revised planning application in due course, most likely as student accommodation however at this early stage no decision has been made.”
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