Glasgow’s Red Road flats to be demolished this year

Red_Road_tower_blocksGlasgow’s skyline will change forever when the Red Road multi-storey flats are brought down later this year.

Owner GHA said the six remaining blocks will be demolished in a one-off controlled explosive demolition within months but has yet to reveal the date.

A decision to bring all six blocks down in a single blowdown was taken following feedback from local residents.

It comes a year after a plan to blow up five of the remaining blocks during the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games was scrapped.

The one-off demolition, which will be carried out under strict health and safety guidelines, will be less disruptive to residents and businesses than carrying out multiple evacuations. All of the blocks are currently empty and are being prepared for demolition.

GHA and demolition specialists Safedem have previously carried out two successful blowdowns at Red Road in 2012 and 2013.

The block at 33 Petershill Drive was leased to property services company Orchard & Shipman until February 2015.

All of the blocks are currently empty and are being prepared for demolition.

David Fletcher, director of regeneration for GHA, said: “We’re working very closely with our contractor and partners on plans to bring down all six remaining blocks in a single demolition later this year.

“Our contractor is preparing the blocks for demolition with work carried out to stringent health and safety regulations.

“We’ll continue to work with members of the local community about arrangements for the day.

“We’d like to thank all of the residents again for their patience and understanding during this important part of the community regeneration project.”

Safedem and GHA are liaising with local residents and businesses as work continues on preparing the blocks for demolition.

The demolition of the remaining Red Road flats is the latest part of GHA’s regeneration of communities across the city which will see thousands of new homes built.

The planned schedule remains for all eight blocks to be demolished and the site cleared by 2017.

Future development options for the cleared site are at an early stage and will include further community consultation over the summer.

@GlasgowHousing

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