Scottish council reveals plan to demolish 500 RAAC-affected homes

Problems around RAAC, which is weaker than standard concrete and more prone to collapse because of its ‘bubbly’ construction, led to around 100 schools in England being either partially or fully closed last summer.

For the Aberdeen homes, replacing roofs was considered among a number of alternative solutions, but the council said demolition was the “quickest and most cost-effective” answer.

Miranda Radley, convener of the council’s communities, housing and public protection committee, said: “This is one of the hardest decisions the council has taken. We recognise the impact this will have on residents, many having lived in their homes for many years.

“The absolute priority has to be their safety.”

The council said demolition and landscaping will cost between £20m and £25m and take up to four years.

Building new homes will cost £130m “or more” and take between five and 15 years, the authority said.

The council first announced plans in March to rehouse tenants and has said they will be given “first refusal” on a replacement home “matching their need”.

Before the latest meeting, the BBC reported that a protest was held outside Aberdeen City Council headquarters,  with banners displaying the message: “Justice for home owners”.

The authority said it will aim to acquire the privately owned properties by voluntary agreement, to “allow demolition to proceed safely and smoothly across the affected area”.

The council said: “Owners will be offered market value along with reasonable legal costs, and home loss and disturbance payments.

“Private owners and tenants will be offered the same rehoming support as council tenants.”

The council said it will advise the UK and Scottish governments about the preferred option, and the financial impact for the local authority and private owners.

The council said it will also ask for a meeting to “discuss funding support for the short-term costs and longer-term housing development requirements”.