Dundee ‘most impacted’ by RACC in Scotland

Dundee 'most impacted' by RACC in Scotland

Nearly 900 households in Dundee have been identified as containing defective and potentially hazardous concrete, the highest number in any Scottish local authority, according to newly obtained figures.

Data from the UK Raac Campaign Group reveals that 887 residential properties in Dundee contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Of these, 526 are social or council housing, while 361 are privately owned.

Many of the privately owned properties were initially council homes purchased under the Right to Buy scheme, which operated from 1980 to 2016.

Wilson Chowdhry, founder of the UK Raac Campaign Group, has urged all levels of government to work together to address the crisis.

“A collaborative effort is needed,” he told The Courier. “The Scottish Government is stretched, the UK Government is stretched, and councils simply cannot afford to offer homeowners a fair deal. Unless a unified approach is taken, affected homeowners across Scotland could face severe financial hardship—potentially leading to bankruptcy and homelessness.”

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted by the campaign group estimate that 3,756 homes across Scotland contain RAAC.

Dundee is the most affected area, followed by Aberdeen, where 642 properties have been identified. Many of those homes are set to be demolished, with homeowners expected to receive only a fraction of their property’s original value.

The crisis has also impacted Monifieth, where at least 26 homes have been identified as containing RAAC, though the true number may be higher.

Campaigners are set to bring their concerns to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

Maggie Chapman, Green MSP for North East Scotland, highlighted the lack of engagement in Dundee despite the severity of the issue.

“Dundee is the most affected city, yet it seems to be getting the least attention,” she said. “Hundreds of people are impacted, and every level of government must step in. Proper compensation is essential. It’s becoming increasingly clear that homeowners were not given the right information when they bought their properties.”

Dundee City Council maintained that almost all of the homes across the city where the inspections have found RAAC are not an immediate safety risk.

A spokesperson for the council stated: “Through extensive inspections across the city, RAAC was identified in 81 blocks of flats and 293 cottages. The majority of these properties do not pose an immediate safety risk, as the Raac is currently in satisfactory condition.

“For privately-owned homes, maintenance is the owner’s responsibility. We advise affected homeowners to seek their own assessments regarding the condition of RAAC in their properties.”

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