Aberdeen Council Approves Demolition of 504 Homes

Aberdeen City Council has voted to demolish over 500 homes containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) due to safety concerns, following an independent appraisal that deemed demolition the safest and most cost-effective solution. The affected properties include 366 council homes and 138 private residences, with demolition costs estimated between £20 million to £25 million and rebuilding costs exceeding £130 million. Residents expressed deep emotional distress over the decision, with protests highlighting their anger and feelings of abandonment. The council plans to rehouse residents and negotiate market value compensation for private homeowners, aiming to complete the rehoming process by the end of the year. The demolition is expected to take three to four years, with rebuilding potentially extending up to 15 years. Ongoing discussions between the council and the Scottish government are focused on funding support for these initiatives.