RAAC found in housing could be start of ‘national scandal’
There is a “good chance” that ongoing surveys reveal the number of homes across Scotland built using potentially dangerous concrete panels is higher than previously thought, a construction engineering expert has said.
In the wake of the decision by Aberdeen City Council to rehome hundreds of tenants after the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), Professor Chris Goodier, part of the Loughborough University team leading a major national research projectintotheuseofraac,saidthe material may have been used in other homes built around the same time. According to figures compiled by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR), 11 social landlords have found Raacinatotalof985properties. A further 45 landlords are still assessing their stock.
Itisnotclearwhenafinaltotal will emerge, but Prof Goodier said he expected the number to rise. “If Raac has been found to be in about 500 homes in the
Balnagask area of Torry, then there is a good chance that therewillbemoreraacinother homes in Scotland built in this era and hence this number will rise,” he said. “This could show that the Raac problem is more widespread in the housing sector than first thought.”
While significant focus has fallen on the use of Raac in schools and hospitals, close to 30,000 domestic properties remain under investigation throughout Scotland. Aberdeen City Council has identified the most of any organisation, with around 500 properties affected, including 364 council houses.
In the wake of the Aberdeen case, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-hamilton has called on the Scottish Government to put the issue at thetopofitsagenda.hepointed out that councils in the Lothianshaveindicatedthetotalcost of addressing Raac in the area could exceed £80 million.
“In Aberdeen, hundreds of peoples’ lives are being turned upside down, and they will all be extremely concerned about how the roofs above their heads could now pose a danger to them,” he said. “To date, the Scottish Government have offered up a litany of excuses, insisting time and time again thatthereisnothingtoseehere. Despite numerous public bodies warning of the incredibly steep costs, ministers do not appear to have provided a pennyofdedicatedsupport.people in Aberdeen and right across the country deserve to know what’s going on and what the next steps are, especially when this could signal the beginning of a national scandal.”
Housing minister Paul Mclennansaid:“aberdeencity Council has made the decision to re-home the affected households as part of their long-term planstoremediatetheraacdiscovered. The Scottish Government and the SHR will continue to keep in close contact with thecounciltoensureallofthose affectedreceivetheappropriate support.
“The Scottish Government’s cross-sector working group continues to meet regularly to ensure knowledge and best practice can be shared across those sectors affected by Raac andwecontinuetoengagewith local authorities and social landlords to understand the extent of Raac.”
People across the country deserve to know what’s going on, and what the next steps are Alex Cole-hamilton