Firefighters have expressed “grave concerns” that a Belfast building undergoing refurbishment is at risk of collapse after it was gutted by a major fire.
The blaze broke out at the listed five-storey Bank Buildings, which housed a Primark store, at around 11am yesterday (Tuesday).
The site was evacuated and there were no reports of injuries. It is not clear how the fire started.
The building had been undergoing a major refurbishment as part of a £30m project led by contractor Bennett to extend the Primark outlet along Castle Street.
This is not a paywall. Registration allows us to enhance your experience across Construction Management and ensure we deliver you quality editorial content.
Registering also means you can manage your own CPDs, comments, newsletter sign-ups and privacy settings.
The work involved the demolition of the 1950s office block Commonwealth House on Castle Street, and the construction of a six-storey retail building designed by WDR & RT Taggart Architects. Completion had been expected late this year, although it is not known how the fire will have affected the programme.
Referring to the original Bank Buildings store, senior fire officer Michael Graham told the BBC: “We need to keep an eye on the structural integrity of the building. We have grave concerns that the building might collapse…Our expectation is that the internal floors will collapse where the fire has been burning at its greatest intensity. We actually hope that might help the overall structure, but we certainly can’t guarantee the structural integrity of the building at this time.”
Primark chief executive Paul Marchant said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the fire.
He added: “We would like to reassure our customers, colleagues and the wider community in Belfast that we are committed to working with the authorities and our building contractors to establish the cause of the fire.”
Bennett has been contacted for comment.
