Hundreds of homes evacuated in Scotland over crumbling concrete fears

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Hundreds of homes in Aberdeen, Scotland, have been evacuated over fears of crumbling concrete following investigations into controversial Raac materials.

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete – or Raac – is a lightweight alternative to standard concrete that was used mostly in flat roofing but also in floors and walls across buildings during the 1950s to 1990s.

But in the past few years, Raac has failed in a number of settings – collapsing without warning.

This has prompted schools, hospitals and other public buildings to take urgent action.

Aberdeen City Council announced on Thursday that occupants of hundreds of council properties were being moved out of their homes into alternative accommodation because of the danger.

Last year Raac panels were found in around 500 homes in the city’s Balnagask area, including 364 council properties, with 299 occupied by council tenants. Others were owner-occupied or occupied by private tenants.

An independent structural engineers’ report a week ago on the presence of Raac was published last week, recommending that council tenants be moved out as soon as possible.

The council says it has written to its tenants inviting them to meet a housing officer in their home, and has also contacted owners and private tenants of the homes to offer them a meeting with a housing officer to discuss their housing options.

Officers are looking at whether the homes should be rebuilt or demolished.

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