The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)

Hundreds will be moved home over council Raac fears

Hundreds of people living in Torry are to be moved from their council homes “as soon as possible” over fears about Raac.

A multi-million-plan is being drawn up to find permanent new housing for residents in 364 council properties in Balnagask.

Structural engineers have urged Aberdeen City Council to move “as quickly as possible” after sampling homes known to contain Raac, or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Around 500 homes in Balnagask are known to contain panels of the lightweigh­t, bubbly material.

It was widely used in constructi­on between the 1950s and 1990s.

But alarms were raised across the country as roofs began to collapse in buildings built with the now flawed, crumbling concrete.

While Torry is the main focus in the Raac hunt in Aberdeen council housing, the material has been found in roofs of schools, hospitals and the Town House.

Residents in Balnagask were first told of the likelihood of Raac being used in the constructi­on of their homes last autumn.

Within weeks, longempty council properties in Torry were being sacrificed to the search.

The worst-condition council housing was ripped apart to allow structural engineers to get a better handle on how the Raac might have deteriorat­ed.

The independen­t experts presented their findings to Aberdeen City Council on February 22.

At an urgently arranged meeting on Thursday, councillor­s voted to permanentl­y rehome local authority residents in the affected Balnagask homes.

Soon after, council staff were sent out to handdelive­r letters to their tenants.

They also began contacting owners and tenants of the approximat­ely 140 private homes also impacted.

Housing and support officers will meet with all affected residents to discuss the options.

Council housing convener Miranda Radley said: “This is an incredibly difficult situation for everyone living in a Raacaffect­ed 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.”

As well as contemplat­ing how to move more than 360 people from their homes as quickly as possible, council chiefs must now work out if the Balnagask buildings can be saved.

Officials are exploring options for the long-term viability of the Raacaffect­ed Torry homes.

Discussion­s will include whether they can be fixed or need to be bulldozed.

City housing bosses have been given six months to consider the options.

The letter, quickly shared on social media, states: “It is considered that comprehens­ive remedial works will be required and a period of time is necessary to consider and review all options.

“We recognise that all of the possible options will be incredibly disruptive to tenants, and cannot be undertaken while you remain in the property.

“We understand that moving home can raise a number of questions and appreciate that you may feel settled within your existing community.”