Councillors on the City of Edinburgh Council’s housing, homelessness and fair work committee were considering a report yesterday which recommended the demolition of Westfield Court in Gorgie.

According to the report, the eight-storey building is nearing the end of its lifespan, and there have been ongoing leaks from waste pipes for at least 10 years.

The waste pipes are housed in shafts which can only be accessed from inside people’s flats. The shafts are narrow, long, have no safe access/working platforms and contain asbestos, the report added.

The June 2025 condition survey revealed worsening problems with failing risers and waste outflow pipes, with repairs deemed uneconomical. Although fire safety works have been completed, councillors were told the building’s overall condition had deteriorated significantly.

Ahead of the meeting, housing convener Cllr Tim Pogson said: “It’s just not a situation that we want at all. I can’t think of anything worse than having dirty water, sewage coming into properties. It’s completely unacceptable on all grounds.”

Several residents of Westfield Court spoke in deputations at the meeting, expressing discontent with the council’s handling of the building.

The residents and members of the tenants’ union Living Rent claim that the costs are so high because the council has neglected to repair the building for decades.

Following the deputations, protesters interrupted the meeting, demanding that councillors reject those proposals in favour of carrying out renovations.

The council currently owns about a third of the flats in Westfield Court and would need to buy out the remaining owners before demolition could proceed. Options for the site include investment, redevelopment, or sale.

Housing officials will now investigate issues around the planned demolition before a final resolution is decided.