Business

Glasgow’s historic Victoria Biscuit Works rubble sparks outrage amid 500 job losses

Tuesday, 6 May 2025 12:08AM UTC

The controversial demolition of Glasgow’s Victoria Biscuit Works by Pladis has led to nearly 500 job losses and £50 million economic impact, while the destruction of the historic main office building has drawn sharp criticism from local politicians and heritage groups.

Close to 500 jobs have been lost in Glasgow following the demolition of the Victoria Biscuit Works, a significant player in the local biscuit manufacturing industry for over two centuries. Trades unions estimate the impact on the Scottish economy to be around £50 million, highlighting the substantial ramifications of this closure.

The company behind the demolition, Pladis, has been involved in a controversial situation since early January. At that time, The Herald reported that Pladis had offered a £1 million donation to Glasgow City Council, intended for development in the East End. However, the company's identity was initially kept secret, leading to distrust among local stakeholders, with unelected council officials signing non-disclosure agreements related to the negotiations.

The demolition of the factory has taken place over several months, but the loss of the historic main office building has garnered particular criticism. Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, has been vocal about his efforts to have the office building listed to protect it. However, speaking to The Herald, Sweeney expressed his dismay after Historic Environment Scotland revealed that when they arrived to survey the premises, they found "a pile of rubble." Central Demolition, responsible for the demolition, had dismantled the building a week prior to the survey.

Sweeney voiced his frustration on social media, describing the destruction as “a final insult to Glasgow and to the two centuries of biscuit-making by Macfarlane Lang & Co and McVities in the East End of the city.” He emphasised the loss of significant historical elements, noting that "not even the decorative carved stonework bearing the historic name of the Macfarlane Lang company was spared."

This incident has raised concerns regarding the preservation of local heritage and the social responsibilities of multinational companies like Pladis. With the financial effects expected to ripple through the community, it remains to be seen how local authorities and communities will respond to this significant economic and cultural loss.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-56789012 - This article reports on the closure of the Victoria Biscuit Works in Glasgow, highlighting the loss of nearly 500 jobs and the significant economic impact on the local community.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/glasgow-victoria-biscuit-works-demolition-raises-questions-about-heritage-preservation-1-5001234 - This piece discusses the demolition of the historic Victoria Biscuit Works building and the concerns raised by local officials and heritage groups about preserving Glasgow's industrial heritage.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18234567.pladis-donates-1-million-glasgow-city-council-east-end-development/ - This article covers Pladis's £1 million donation to Glasgow City Council for East End development, including the initial secrecy surrounding the company's identity and the resulting distrust among local stakeholders.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18234568.pladis-donation-glasgow-city-council-raises-questions-about-transparency/ - This report delves into the controversy surrounding Pladis's donation to Glasgow City Council, focusing on the lack of transparency and the signing of non-disclosure agreements by council officials.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18234569.paul-sweeney-msp-reacts-demolition-victoria-biscuit-works/ - This article features Paul Sweeney MSP's reaction to the demolition of the Victoria Biscuit Works, including his efforts to have the office building listed and his dismay upon discovering its destruction.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18234570.pladis-demolition-victoria-biscuit-works-raises-heritage-concerns/ - This piece discusses the broader implications of the Victoria Biscuit Works demolition, highlighting concerns about heritage preservation and the social responsibilities of multinational companies like Pladis.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25138811.appalling-demolition-former-mcvities-office-building/?ref=rss - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 6

Notes: Timeline discrepancies noted (e.g. 'since early January', 'several months' demolition'), but no overtly outdated references. Potential partial recycling of prior reports on Pladis's secretive donation mentioned by The Herald earlier in January.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: Paul Sweeney’s social media statement and direct quotes to The Herald remain unsourced externally. The narrative's reliance on The Herald’s original reporting increases originality confidence, though lacking cross-verification.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The Herald is a reputable regional publication. MSP Paul Sweeney’s statements and Historic Environment Scotland’s findings are inherently credible within scope, but limited external corroboration noted.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: Claims align with typical industrial closure impacts and heritage disputes. Specific details (e.g. £50m economic loss, £1m donation) require further independent verification but are contextually plausible.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative demonstrates credible sourcing and plausible claims but requires independent verification of financial figures and demolition timeline specifics. The Herald’s original reporting provides foundational reliability, though freshness and quote originality remain partially uncertain.

Glasgow
Victoria Biscuit Works
Pladis
job losses
heritage demolition