Aberdeen City Council has commenced the second phase of site clearing in Torry’s Balnagask area, following the approval of a building warrant that allocates £5.8 million for the demolition of 277 properties affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
The properties slated for demolition encompass addresses on Balnagask Road, Burnbank Place, Burnbank Terrace, Downies Brae, Farquhar Road, Farquhar Brae, Girdleness Road, Lochnagar Road, Pentland Crescent, Pentland Road, Rockall Place, and North Balnagask Road.
The decision to proceed with demolition was initially sanctioned by councillors in August 2024. Structural surveys conducted on over 100 properties revealed “high risk factors,” including cracks along ceiling slabs, visible sagging or bending, and holes in the slabs that increased the risk of water ingress and further material degradation.
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, often described informally as “bubbly” concrete, is a lightweight construction material utilised between the 1950s and 1990s. Despite its name, RAAC differs significantly from traditional concrete, being less durable due to its aerated composition.
Demolition plans, detailing the controlled, floor-by-floor removal of properties, were publicly released in December 2024. The extensive scheme anticipates the razing of 372 buildings by 2028, with a projected total project cost for the local authority exceeding £130 million. Once the site is cleared, the council intends to construct new social housing, replacing the existing structures.
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The current building warrant coincides with the council’s dispatch of final letters to the remaining 12 homeowners in RAAC-affected properties. These communications urge residents to either ensure their properties are made safe or vacate the premises. The local authority has indicated its readiness to initiate formal enforcement action if homeowners fail to respond.
Over the past two years, more than 360 council tenants have been successfully relocated to alternative accommodation, while many private homeowners have also moved. However, a small contingent of 12 homeowners reportedly has not engaged with the council despite sustained efforts.
Among the affected residents, Dave Porter, a private homeowner on Balnagask Road, notably spent £18,000 to replace his RAAC roof. Despite this investment, Mr. Porter voiced concerns, stating he “still fears he will be ‘slapped with a compulsory purchase order anyway’.”
