Glasgow Council £100m Unpaid Rates: Union Street Vape Fire (Glasgow, 2026)

Key Points

• Glasgow City Council is owed close to £100 million in unpaid business rates across various properties.
• The Union Street fire on 8 March 2026 started in a vape shop at 105 Union Street, which owed nearly £10,000 in non-domestic rates (NDR).
• The shop, operated by Junaid Retail Limited, had not paid any business rates since occupying the premises from 1 August 2024.
• Junaid Retail Limited was not registered to sell vapes or tobacco products, as required under Scottish regulations.
• The fire devastated Forsyth House, a B-listed building from 1851, leading to its partial collapse and demolition for public safety.
• Glasgow Central Station, Scotland’s busiest railway station, was fully closed for weeks, with low-level platforms reopening on 11 March and full services resuming by 25 March 2026.
• Over 250 firefighters attended the scene at its peak, with operations lasting until 11 March.
• The landlord, Afton Estates Limited, confirmed Junaid Retail as the occupier despite non-payment.
• The council’s debt recovery partner is pursuing the outstanding rates for the vape shop.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) April 15, 2026 – Glasgow City Council is owed almost £100m in unpaid business rates, with the Union Street vape shop at the centre of a major fire earlier this year among those failing to pay nearly £10,000 in non-domestic rates (NDR). The blaze, which began in the unregistered vape shop at 105 Union Street, spread to the adjacent B-listed Forsyth House, causing partial collapse and the temporary full closure of Glasgow Central Station. This revelation highlights broader issues with business rates collection in the city.

What Caused the Union Street Fire and Its Immediate Impact?

The fire broke out just after 4pm on Sunday, 8 March 2026, in the vape shop at 105 Union Street, near the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street. Thick smoke billowed onto the street, prompting a rapid response from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). As reported by Karin Goodwin of The Ferret, the blaze took hold several hours later, ripping through Forsyth House, a historic B-listed building from 1851 known for its iconic dome. Firefighters remained on site until 11 March, with more than 250 personnel at the peak of the incident.

Glasgow Central Station was evacuated and fully closed due to the risk of the neighbouring facade collapsing. Platforms one to six reopened progressively, with low-level services resuming on 11 March and high-level platforms on 18 March, though the Gordon Street entrance stayed shut during demolition and clear-up. By 25 March 2026, the station returned to a normal timetable, with all platforms, shops, ticket office, and toilets operational, despite ongoing bus diversions on Union Street. As stated in BBC reporting, the building dated to before 1879, predating the station itself.

Why Had the Vape Shop Not Paid Business Rates?

Glasgow City Council confirmed the vape shop had occupied the premises from 1 August 2024, but a business rates bill for 2025/26 was returned marked as the owners having “gone away”. A council spokesperson told The Ferret that landlord Afton Estates Limited verified Junaid Retail Limited as the occupier at that time, yet no contact was made with the company and no payments were received. The account has been handed to the council’s debt recovery partner.

The Herald Scotland initially revealed the council is owed close to £100m in unpaid business rates citywide, specifically noting the vape shop’s arrears of almost £10,000. BBC News articles detailed that Junaid Retail Limited, the registered tenant since August 2024, had made no payments for non-domestic rates during this period and was being pursued by a debt recovery agency. Daily Mail reporting added that despite the returned bill, Afton Estates confirmed Junaid Retail remained the occupant, leading the council to update billing to the company’s registered office in Hamilton, with no payments ever made.

Was the Vape Shop Registered to Sell Vapes?

The Ferret investigation by Karin Goodwin found no registration for the sale of vapes or tobacco products at the Union Street premises, as required by Scottish Government regulations. Herald Scotland’s exclusive coverage echoed this, stating the shop does not appear on the Scottish Government’s register of tobacco and vape retailers. Junaid Retail Limited, trading as the vape shop, was named by The Ferret as the tenant behind the operation.

Abdul Sarwar, linked to the company, told The Ferret he believed he had one year of rates relief before payments were due, but later struggled financially as “the shop was not making enough money”. He added he thought only tobacco sales required registration and was unaware vapes were included, stating, “I cannot comment on what happened next.” Reddit discussions referenced The Ferret’s reporting, confirming Junaid Retail as the company that had not paid rates or registered appropriately.

What Happened to the Fire-Damaged Building?

Following the fire, the remains of Forsyth House were handed to Glasgow City Council from the SFRS on 12 March 2026. Council officials conducted a structural assessment and decided to demolish the remaining structure due to public safety concerns. BBC News noted demolition and clear-up work continued into late March, affecting station access. Wikipedia’s entry on the Union Street fire records the partial collapse and full demolition, with the facade partially intact initially.

The fire’s origin in the vape shop was confirmed by SFRS, as initially reported by Herald Scotland, which devastated the listed building and closed Glasgow Central temporarily. Images from the scene showed black smoke pouring from the shop as flames engulfed the entire structure.

How Did the Fire Affect Glasgow Central Station Operations?

The station, Scotland’s busiest, faced severe disruption from 8 March onwards. West Coast Main Line trains were impacted, with full closure lasting until progressive reopenings. BBC reporting clarified the fire spread through the Victorian building adjacent to the station, avoiding serious damage to the station itself but necessitating evacuation. By 23 March, platforms one to six were set to fully reopen, though the front entrance remained closed.

Glasgow Times coverage linked to the station’s topics noted the temporary closure stemmed from the Union Street fire’s proximity. On 24 March, BBC confirmed the return to normal timetable, with buses still diverted from Union Street. Firefighters’ efforts contained the spread, but the incident highlighted vulnerabilities near critical infrastructure.

Broader Context of Unpaid Business Rates in Glasgow

The £100m figure represents unpaid non-domestic rates across Glasgow, with the vape shop case exemplifying enforcement challenges. Council statements to The Ferret and BBC indicate ongoing pursuits via debt recovery, but many accounts, like Junaid Retail’s, show no payments despite occupancy confirmation by landlords. This fire-related disclosure has spotlighted systemic collection issues in the city.

Background of the Development

The Union Street fire and unpaid business rates issue trace back to the vape shop’s occupancy from 1 August 2024 under Junaid Retail Limited. Glasgow City Council’s rates system relies on tenant and landlord confirmations, but non-payment led to debt recovery actions pre-fire. The blaze on 8 March 2026 escalated the matter, destroying the premises and prompting investigations into registration and payments. Historical non-domestic rates arrears have long challenged local authorities, with this case gaining attention due to the fire’s scale and station impact. Forsyth House’s B-listing added heritage concerns, resolved via safety-driven demolition.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Local Businesses and Commuters

This development can affect local businesses through heightened scrutiny on business rates compliance, potentially leading to stricter enforcement and debt recovery by Glasgow City Council. Unpaid rates like the vape shop’s nearly £10,000 could prompt audits for similar premises, increasing financial pressures on retailers amid rising operational costs. Commuters at Glasgow Central Station may face lingering disruptions, such as closed entrances and bus diversions, extending travel times even after full reopening on 25 March 2026. The fire’s link to an unregistered, non-paying shop could result in tighter regulations on vape retailers, raising setup barriers for new entrants and affecting supply chains in Glasgow’s city centre. Overall, it underscores risks of non-compliance near key infrastructure, possibly influencing leasing practices by landlords like Afton Estates.