Residents in a highly-publicised Glasgow newbuild regeneration site are gutted after being forced out of their homes weeks before Christmas.
Tenants in Sighthill's NorthBridge development received no warning when they received a knock on the door at 6pm and were told to leave last Wednesday (November 23).
Residents had only moved in six months prior when the shocking evacuation occurred. 20 families from two blocks were told to leave and moved into hotels and rented accommodation in Glasgow by property manager Lowther Homes, the Daily Record reports.
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It came amid concerns over fire safety when plasterboards were found to have been incorrectly installed at flats built by Keepmoat Homes, with fire collars also not installed, putting residents at risk.
Tenants have been told they will not be allowed back until February or March.
One resident Peter Collins, 45, had to move into his aunt's home with his dog Maizie.
He said: "We were told we had to leave in 90 minutes and booked into a Travelodge or other hotels.
"I was in my pyjamas with my dog, who is disabled, when we were told we had to leave. 20 homes were put out of their flats and into taxis. People were coming out with rabbits, goldfish - all sorts. It was chaotic.
"When someone tells you something like that, you don't question it, but as time goes on, we saw they never really explained why to everyone.
"Luckily I have family in Glasgow and have moved into my aunt's home, so I'm having to work from home there."
Tenant Jackie McColgan said: "I had just put up my Christmas tree and was excited to have my first Christmas in my home.
"Now I've been turfed out four weeks before Christmas. This has been really upsetting and I had to take time off work.
"To watch all of your belongings be packed up and then moved out of your home is really heartbreaking. It is just awful."
Extra fire alarms were fitted following the evacuation alongside fire safety equipment.
It is understood homeowners received a letter from Keepmoat Homes explaining the remedial works but tenants did not.
The letter reads: "Plasterboard installation was not installed as per approved design and some fire collars had not been installed as per the manufacturer's guidelines."
It continues: "Defects do not comply with the requirements of the approved Building Warrant at the time of construction."
The Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area (TRA) was hailed as the biggest regeneration scheme in the UK outside of London and Keepmoat won the bid to deliver more than 800 homes in October 2017 from Glasgow City Council.
A Lowther Homes spokesperson said: “We’re so sorry for the upheaval caused, especially as it’s in the run-up to Christmas.
“We’ve provided all the support we possibly can to our tenants. Our staff have been on site around the clock and will continue to do everything possible to support everyone affected in the weeks ahead.
“The remedial work now underway is absolutely essential. The checks we carried out confirmed certain aspects of the construction work carried out by the builder, Keepmoat, did not meet building standards and need to be corrected.”
Lowther Homes said they had kept residents up to date at every step, including the work needed to fix the plasterboards, via email and phone.
A spokesperson for Keepmoat Homes said: “As part of our ongoing work on apartments currently under construction at our NorthBridge development in Glasgow, we became aware that in some areas the plasterboard was not installed as per approved design and some fire collars had not been installed as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. As a result of these findings, we promptly commenced thorough investigative works to all the apartment blocks on the development to ensure the safety of all residents.
“During the course of these investigations, we discovered further defects to four occupied blocks and unfortunately this has resulted in residents from two of the blocks being immediately moved out into temporary accommodation, where they will remain until all remedial works are completed.
“This situation has arisen as a result of poor workmanship by some of our contractors on the development and in spite of regular checks and inspections being carried out by the Keepmoat construction management team and third-party warranty providers and building control.
“We are deeply embarrassed and disappointed that this has happened, and we are committed to doing everything possible to rectify the situation as soon as possible. We are working closely with Lowther Homes and Glasgow City Council, to make sure all residents are fully supported throughout the process.”
But Peter contends that there has been very poor communication from Keepmoat, saying: "None of it has been transparent, all just word of mouth or told things casually, but very little in writing.
"We've been told we'll be back in our homes in February or March but again, that hasn't been put in writing. The communication has been really poor. The way we've been treated has been horrendous.
"Kids that go to school in that area are now having to take taxis from the other side of the cit to get to their school.
"There's just a lot of disappointment felt about all of this. We were offered compensation of £5,000 which is great, but we would rather be in our homes for Christmas."
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