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Fire-hit M&Co to move to new temporary home in Inverness this weekend

The building was gutted by fire in April 2015
The building was gutted by fire in April 2015

A clothes shop will move into a new home in Inverness this weekend, six months on from a devastating fire in its former city centre base.

M&Co will host a grand opening of its new temporary unit in the Eastgate Shopping Centre on Saturday.

Its former building in Academy Street was completely gutted by an inferno which ripped through the store on April 15.

The building is one of the oldest in Inverness and has been covered in scaffolding since the devastating fire.

M&Co own the building and have been hit with a dangerous building notice by Highland Council because of its condition.

The retailer yesterday confirmed the move to its new unit from this weekend but said it would be a temporary location while it rebuilt its old home.

It is understood that a planning application is being drawn up for the rebuilding of the shop, with the company hoping to reopen in summer of autumn next year.

The new M&Co will fill an empty 4,000sq-ft unit over two floors, with the entrance on the ground floor of the shopping centre between Debenhams and Costa Coffee.

The company said that despite the temporary accommodation visitors can expect a “complete shopping experience”.

Neil McGeoch, M&Co property director, said: “We’re thrilled to be back in Inverness following the fire on Academy Street.

“We would like to take this time to thank the local residents and M&Co shoppers for their patience and understanding during the last six months.

“We look forward to welcoming back our customers and we’re sure that Inverness shoppers will welcome the new store in Eastgate Shopping Centre.”

The aftermath of the fire has caused major disruption to the city centre, with Academy Street only fully reopening to traffic earlier this month.

Fire crews remained at the scene for days afterwards, with 46 firefighters from across the Highlands tackling the blaze.

Crews ran hoses 150 yards to the River Ness to pump water to the scene.

A beauty salon on the upper floor of the building was also destroyed in the blaze.