Concrete Raac Scotland: Hundreds moved out of homes in Aberdeen due to faulty concrete

The potentially collapse-risk concrete, known as Raac, has been found in hundreds of homes in Aberdeen

Hundreds of people are being moved out of their homes in Aberdeen following the discovery of potentially collapse-risk concrete.

Panels made from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) were found in about 500 homes in the Balnagask area of Aberdeen, including 364 council properties, last year.

An independent, structural engineers’ report on the presence of Raac in a representative sample of the properties recommended that council tenants be relocated to alternative accommodation within the city as soon as possible.

Panels made from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) were found in about 500 homes in the Balnagask area of Aberdeen. Picture: Google

The council received the report on February 22 and it was considered by Aberdeen City Council’s urgent business committee on Thursday, February 29.

Councillors accepted a recommendation from council officers that tenants be permanently rehomed and have written to council tenants, as well as to owners and private tenants, to update them on the situation.

Miranda Radley, convener of the communities, housing and public protection committee, said: “This is an incredibly difficult situation for everyone living in a Raac-affected property, but the council will be doing everything we can to support our tenants during this hugely challenging time.

“These are people’s homes and we need to ensure we support our tenants, but also engage with owners and privately rented tenants, to keep them informed on this matter.”

The faulty concrete has been found in hundreds of homes in Aberdeen

The council said 299 of the 364 council properties were occupied by council tenants, and the remaining 140 of the 500 or so properties affected were privately owned.

Officials are exploring options for the long-term viability of the site, which include remedial works or demolition and a detailed appraisal will be presented to the council within six months.

The council has written to council tenants inviting them to meet with a housing and support officer in their home.

It has also contacted owners and private tenants to let them know the current position and to offer them a meeting with a housing and support officer to discuss their housing options.

The committee has agreed to set aside an initial £3 million to cover the rehoming programme.

Concerns about Raac emerged last year, prompting governments and councils around the UK to assess buildings for its presence.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “Since I first raised this issue with the First Minister almost a year ago, the Scottish Government has been astonishingly cavalier about the presence of dangerous concrete across the country.

“Today’s news will turn the lives of hundreds of people upside down. It will be incredibly worrying that the roof above their head could pose a danger to them.

“It flies in the face of the Government’s litany of excuses and insistence that there is nothing to see here. Scottish Liberal Democrats have helped uncover the presence of this dangerous concrete in schools, hospitals, universities, colleges, fire and police stations.

“We need to know how this report and decision will impact on the continued use of all of these buildings across Scotland. People deserve to know what is going on.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “This is not an emergency decant of residents, rather they are to be moved as part of Aberdeen City Council’s planned re-homing program, which will allow the local authority to progress to the next stage of investigations on condition of Raac in the affected buildings, which is in line with the Institute of Structural Engineers guidance on Raac remediation.

“All tenants will be receiving one-to-one assessment of their onward housing needs. Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has made the decision to re-home the affected households as part of their long-term plans to remediate the Raac discovered.

“The Scottish Government and the Scottish Housing Regulator will continue to keep in close contact with ACC to ensure that all of those affected receive the appropriate support.”