Hundreds of homes in Aberdeen affected by dangerous concrete are to be demolished and rebuilt on safety grounds.
Over 500 homes in the city's Balnagask area of Torry have been identified as having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
An estimated 366 council and 138 private addresses have RAAC in roof panels.
The council considered several remedies – including roof replacement – however demolition was judged to offer the quickest and most cost-effective way to remove the “high risk” posed by the lightweight concrete.
The demolition of these properties is expected to cost between £20 to £25million and it is thought the rebuilding project could cost an additional £130million and take five to 15 years.
A meeting of Aberdeen City Council accepted officers’ recommendations for dealing with RAAC, drawn up after independent survey work, a detailed options appraisal, and extensive community engagement.
Alarm bells were raised in February following an inspection in 2023 with a recommendation to relocate tenants "as soon as possible."
The process of rehoming council tenants has been ongoing since then.
Councillor Miranda Radley, convener of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee, said: “This is one of the hardest decisions the Council has taken. We recognise the impact this will have on residents, many having lived in their home for many years.
“The absolute priority has to be their safety. The welfare of people is what matters most, and we will continue to offer individuals and families one-to-one support whilst meeting their housing needs as far as possible from existing stock.
“The Council will also explore providing a mix of new homes for the longer term, and we look forward to working with the local community and potential partners in developing the regeneration plans.”
Rehomed council tenants will be given first refusal on a replacement home matching their need.
The Council will aim to purchase the private properties by voluntary agreement to allow demolition to proceed safely and smoothly across the affected area. Owners will be offered market value along with reasonable legal costs, and home loss and disturbance payments.
Private owners and tenants will be offered the same rehoming support as council tenants.
The RAAC report can be found here.