The fire-ravaged Robertson’s building will be demolished as soon as possible, Dundee City Council has confirmed.
Building standards officers have assessed the former furniture store and found the steel frame has buckled due to heat of the fire, with the roof and internal floor entirely burned away.
The art-deco style masonry façade suffered major distortion and cracking in the blaze, which the council says has only worsened since the flames were extinguished, leaving the building in an unsafe condition.
Demolition work will begin “as soon as possible”, but a spokesman refused to confirm when this would be.
A number of roads around the Barrack Street building are closed as a result, including North Lindsay Street.
Preparation work to demolish the building also appears to be underway, with earth being scattered on the ground surrounding it.
The Overgate Shopping Centre car park is also closed.
A council spokesman said: “Only the exterior walls of the building have been left following the fire and these are in a dangerous condition and likely to collapse.
“That is why we have a duty in the interests of public safety to move as quickly as possible to demolish what is left of this once fine building.”
Robertson’s demolition to be carried out ‘as quickly as possible’
“Despite our efforts to consider how much of Willison House could be retained, the extent of the fire has left nothing that can be saved.”
The council also confirmed it will pay for the costs of the demolition due to the urgency of the situation, but say the owners of the building will be pursued at a later date.
Companies House lists the director of the Glasgow-based company which owns the structure – Structured House Ltd – as Craig Inglis.
The council spokesman added: “The exclusion zone will be maintained in the meantime in the interests of public safety.
“The work will be carried out as quickly as possible to allow the situation for business in the surrounding area to return to normal.”
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