The next phase of detailed work on assessing the condition of the fire-hit Mackintosh Building is to commence this week.

Engineers from Reigart Demolition, on behalf of Glasgow School of Art, as well as engineers from Glasgow City Council, are intending to begin the next phase of assessing the condition of the building tomorrow.

The inspection is expected to take place from a basket suspended from a crane, as it is still too dangerous to get close to the building at ground level. This follows the results of earlier stages of investigation which were announced last week, and which identified substantial movement in the East and West gables of the building and a stairwell on the South elevation.

The close-in visual inspection is expected to take at least 3 days.

The results will then be combined with the results of drone inspections and remote laser surveys to design a methodology for the removal of the unsafe parts of the building.

The work means that it will be at least another week before it is possible to make any kind of estimate about when it will be safe to enter the cordon and therefore when it will be safe for people to access their homes and businesses.

Speaking in advance of the work, Cllr Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “It is positive news that we are able to get a clearer idea of what we will need to do to make this site safe. The need to protect public safety has meant that it has been impossible to let people into their homes and businesses.

“I understand that this is incredibly frustrating for people and we want to give them access as soon as we can.

“However we need to be realistic about how long this might take. It is likely to take at least a week for us to fully understand what has happened to the building and formulate a detailed plan to make it safe. This means that the very earliest we might be able to give indicative timescales is the beginning to the middle of next week and at this stage even that is not guaranteed.

“We are now supporting some 18 families and individuals with accommodation and other types of help. However people’s circumstances do change and if you find yourself in need of help then please contact us by visiting our staff in the dental hospital or calling 0141 287 0416.”