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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Eszter Tárnai

Demolition of Glasgow tower blocks can go ahead after court ruling

The controversial demolition of four Glasgow tower blocks can go ahead.

A years-long legal battle came to an end today when a council decision to allow the tearing down of the Wyndford buildings was ruled lawful.

The local authority was subject to a judicial review after it greenlit the demolition of 151, 171, 191 and 120 Wyndford Road without an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Local campaign group Wyndford Residents Union has been fighting the decision since it was announced, saying that there were more than 300 homes still in liveable condition which could have been used to house rough sleepers.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow however, said the flats are no longer liveable and all have now been stripped in preparation for demolition.

The Court of Session ruling means that the work can now go ahead.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow has confirmed that their intention is that the demolition will take place later this year.

Explosives will be used on three of the tower blocks while the structure under 120 Wyndford Road will be brought down using "TopDownWay' technology, for which a planning application has already been submitted.

This means the building will be removed floor by floor, from the top.

This will be part of a huge £100m redevelopment of the area, by Wheatley Homes Glasgow and the council.

It will include the creation of 386 affordable homes, 85% of which are planned for social rent and will encourage families to relocate to the Maryhill area.

A Wheatley Homes Glasgow spokesperson said: “We note this verdict by the Court of Session which fully supports the earlier screening opinion taken by Glasgow City Council.

“The overwhelming majority of tenants are fully behind our plans to invest £100 million in Wyndford and transform the community for the better, not only for the people who live there today, but for families and generations to come.”

The landlord said 85% of the people in the area backed their regeneration plan.

The opponents however said they had conducted a poll showing 75% of Wyndford residents were against demolition.

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “We are satisfied with the court’s decision today and means the decision not to require an EIA still stands.”

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