Demolition and rebuilding agreed for RAAC properties
Council homes affected by RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) in Aberdeen are to be demolished on safety grounds – followed by a rebuilding programme. Read more here.
Various concerns have been raised about the use of a type of concrete in the construction of public buildings known as RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete). RAAC is a lightweight material which was used mostly in flat roofing between the 1950s and 1990s.
Aberdeen City Council has been aware of concerns about the use of this product and has previously conducted a range of surveys and inspections of buildings to assess whether these buildings have this material present. This work has identified several properties which have RAAC within their construction.
The Council has concluded the RAAC roof surveys throughout the wider council housing estate. We can confirm that the only properties containing RAAC are those previously reported in the Balangask area of the city.
Several long-term options were explored for local authority properties:
Option 1: not viable (Adding timber runners to extend the bearing length at the support walls).
Option 2: Install a support timber frame under existing RAAC roof panels.
Option 3a: Removal of RAAC panels and replace roof only.
Option 3b: Removal of RAAC panels, replace roof and refurbish homes to modern energy efficient standards.
Option 4a: Demolition only.
Option 4b: Demolition and build new homes.
On Wednesday 21 August 2024 a detailed appraisal (item 9.1) was considered by Council, alongside an overview of feedback from the recent engagement with council tenants, private tenants, owners and the wider community, and associated survey work.
In light of the decision to demolish and rebuild taken at the meeting, the FAQs below will be revised and updated. The aim of rehoming all council tenants on safety grounds by the end of 2024 is unaffected.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening update
At its meeting on 21st August 2024 the Council considered RAAC within properties at Balnagask. One of the decisions made by Council was to :-
(b) agree that the optimum option is the demolition and rebuild of homes on site and instruct the Chief Officer - Capital to proceed with the demolition aspect of this (Option 4a), and report back to the next appropriate meeting of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on the initial phasing of demolition and landscape details;
In order to Report back on the detail requested by Council it is necessary to determine whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required by undertaking an EIA screening process. The EIA screening process is the procedure used to determine whether a proposed project is likely to have significant effects on the environment.
This is a technical submission which does not involve public or other consultation by the council, once submitted the Planning Authority has 21 days to assess the documentation. The EIA was submitted on 19th December 2024 to allow the assessment to be taken into account within the Report on demolition issues due to be brought back to the Council CHPP committee in March 2025.
This is the first stage in the planning and development proposals for the site. No demolition or other works can be implemented without the future Report to Council committee and regardless of any council decision no changes can be made to properties owned by any 3rd party without their consent.
Read Frequently Asked Questions below:
RAAC - Private Owners Questions