Editor
BBCHundreds of properties in Aberdeen affected by doubtlessly harmful concrete are to be demolished and rebuilt at an anticipated value of greater than £150m.
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was recognized in additional than 500 council and personal properties earlier this 12 months.
A protest was held exterior Aberdeen City Council headquarters earlier than a gathering discussing the problem, with banner messages together with “justice for house house owners”.
Councillors have voted to start the demolition course of, after which to have a look at one of the best ways to deal with a rebuilding programme, which might take a number of years.
Of the 504 properties concerned, 366 are council addresses and 138 are personal.
It is estimated demolition might value between £20m and £25m and take as much as 4 years.
It is assumed the rebuilding might value £130m and take between 5 and 15 years.
Discussions about funding between the authority and the Scottish authorities are ongoing.
Council officers informed the assembly there was “no good answer”, however that doing nothing was not an choice.
They stated they’d narrowed down the choices to a few.
These had been:
- take away RAAC panels and refurbish properties to trendy energy-efficient requirements
- demolition solely
- demolition and construct new properties.
They really useful demolition and constructing new properties as the popular choice, and sought preliminary funding to make a begin on the method.
Options for one of the best ways to progress redevelopment will now be assessed.
‘Community disaster’
In an announcement learn to councillors, Hannah Chowdhry had stated she grew to become a home-owner at 19, however had now been left with “nervousness and despair” after RAAC was found.
She described the state of affairs as a “neighborhood disaster”, with properties devalued, whereas the residents felt “betrayed, deserted and unvoiced”.
And the Torry Community RAAC Campaign stated they had been “very offended”.
Before the assembly, protestor Janice Mackie had informed BBC Scotland News: “We’ve simply been left in limbo.
“To suppose one minute you’ve obtained a home for all times, the following minute you’re being informed your home is being demolished.
“I’m a home-owner. What am I purported to do? I’m not going to have the ability to get one other mortgage.”
She added: “I’ve had plenty of sleepless nights as a result of I simply don’t know what I’m going to do.”
‘Hard choice’
Councillor Miranda Radley, convener of the communities, housing and public safety committee, described it as “one of many hardest selections” the council had taken.
“We recognise the affect this can have on residents, many having lived of their house for a few years,” she stated.
“The absolute precedence needs to be their security.
“The welfare of individuals is what issues most, and we are going to proceed to supply people and households one-to-one help while assembly their housing wants so far as attainable from present inventory.”
