Dundee City Council’s pilot scheme for addressing properties affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) has received a significant endorsement from the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the country’s foremost structural engineering body. The IStructE has formally stated that remediation involving the installation of a new roof structure directly beneath the existing RAAC is now considered the “preferred solution” for managing the problematic material.
This authoritative backing comes as local authorities across the UK grapple with the widespread presence of RAAC, a lightweight concrete used extensively in construction between the 1950s and mid-1990s. While initially valued for its cost-effectiveness and insulating properties, RAAC has a finite lifespan and is now known to be prone to sudden failure, particularly when exposed to moisture or poor maintenance, posing significant safety risks.
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Dundee’s pilot programme, initiated nearly a year ago, involves remedial works on five empty council properties of varying types. These works entail constructing a new, independent roof structure directly below the existing RAAC panels, effectively making the original concrete structurally redundant and fully supported. A comprehensive appraisal of these works and next steps is expected to be presented to the council in late spring. The total cost for the pilot scheme and remediation in communal areas of five additional properties in Menzieshill is estimated at £500,000.
The city’s approach stands in stark contrast to that of Aberdeen City Council, which has opted for a strategy of demolition for approximately 500 RAAC-affected homes in its Torry area. This extensive demolition and rebuilding programme is projected to cost £130 million, with the Scottish Government having announced a £10 million fund to assist Aberdeen. Residents in Aberdeen, facing displacement and potential financial hardship, have raised concerns about the safety implications of demolition activities near occupied properties and the adequacy of financial support.
Dundee has identified 887 residential properties containing RAAC, making it the most impacted local authority in Scotland, with 526 social or council homes and 361 privately owned. For private homeowners, the responsibility for addressing RAAC lies with them, and the council continues to recommend seeking expert opinion. The council also assures that regular, detailed inspections are ongoing for all identified RAAC properties in line with IStructE guidance.
