Aberdeen City Council has extended a critical deadline for homeowners in Torry’s Balnagask area, allowing those affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) to finalise agreements to sell their properties to the council. This decision follows a contentious period where residents faced an 11-day ultimatum to accept buy-back offers, a move that drew sharp criticism from opposition councillors.
RAAC was discovered in Balnagask properties almost 30 months ago, initiating a comprehensive buy-back scheme by Aberdeen City Council affecting 366 council-owned and 138 privately-owned homes, all slated for demolition and subsequent redevelopment.
Initial valuations for private homeowners were reportedly below pre-RAAC market values, prompting a campaign for fairer terms. Subsequently, enhanced offers were introduced in November 2025, providing additional payments of £20,000 for one-bedroom, £37,000 for three-bedroom, and £44,000 for four-bedroom properties, on top of market value and legal fees. These improved terms were supported by a £10 million funding commitment from the Scottish Government.
However, tensions resurfaced following an Aberdeen City Council meeting on August 19, where the remaining homeowners were given a mere 11 days to accept the enhanced discretionary terms or face the withdrawal of offers. This directive was met with considerable backlash from residents and opposition councillors, who labelled the proposal “unreasonable and arbitrary”. Concerns were raised regarding the tight deadline, which many felt was insufficient for navigating complex legal, financial, and mortgage arrangements.
A special meeting of the full council was convened to address the ultimatum. Labour councillor Simon Watson criticised council co-leaders Christian Allard and Ian Yuill for a “lack of leadership” throughout the protracted process, which he noted had negatively impacted residents.
Councillor Watson stated: “Just a matter of days ago, this administration gave remaining homeowners a staggering ultimatum. They were handed exactly 11 days to accept the council’s enhanced discretionary terms to purchase their properties, 11 days to make a decision that will determine the rest of their lives.”
He challenged the co-leader directly: “Let me ask the co-leader directly, when was the last time you had to secure a mortgage, instruct a solicitor, make a life-altering financial decision in under a fortnight? It’s unreasonable, it’s arbitrary and, worst of all, it’s entirely avoidable.”
Councillor Watson further highlighted that a Torry GP had reported over 60 patients suffering from stress-related illnesses directly linked to the RAAC crisis.
Conservative leader, Councillor Richard Brooks, echoed these criticisms, expressing a loss of confidence in Councillor Allard’s handling of the situation:
“You have agreed not to withdraw any offer to the remaining homeowners, I have to ask are you playing with people’s mental health? One minute you are withdrawing it, the next minute you change your mind,” Councillor Brooks remarked, adding, “We have all lost confidence in Councillor Allard, not just as the co-leader of this council, but actually as the ward councillor for Torry, the very people we are talking about.”
In Case You Missed it:
Aberdeen homeowners seek deadline extension amidst RAAC demolition plans
Aberdeen council starts second phase of Balnagask RAAC demolition process
Balnagask demolition of RAAC-affected homes begins
Almost 100 Aberdeen residents estimated to still be living in RAAC homes after two years since discovery
In response, housing chief Councillor Miranda Radley defended the council’s position, stressing that enhanced offers had been available to homeowners since November 2025. She also reported positive engagement since the August 19 meeting, with two additional homeowners agreeing to a deal. Councillor Radley affirmed: “We’ve secured agreement from the overwhelming majority of homeowners at this point, we’ve engaged with all owners remaining within the area. We have begun the process of making the site safe, and we’re now in a position to start shaping that long-term vision of the future of Balnagask.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Greig added that a key focus was to complete agreements with “the five owners of the last eight properties,” ensuring valuations were “fair, consistent, and equitable manner,” using “independent market values” and covering “professional fees.”
Ultimately, a Labour motion calling for an extension of timescales for actively engaging homeowners and a report on further options by the year-end was narrowly carried by 22 votes to 21. This outcome grants a reprieve to the remaining homeowners as they navigate the complexities of selling their RAAC-affected properties to the council.
