Double demolition for landmark Glasgow tower blocks
Two of Glasgow’s eight Red Road blocks of flats are to be brought down simultaneously in a double ‘blowdown' controlled demolition.
The flats, in the north of the city, were built in the sixties and at the time were said to be the tallest residential buildings in Europe. In 2005, however, Glasgow Housing Authority (GHA) decided to demolish the flats following a decrease in demand and popularity, coupled with increased running and investment costs.
The two blocks, 153–213 Petershill Drive and 10–30 Petershill Court, will be demolished at the same time in order to minimise disruption to local residents. The Petershill Drive site was due to be demolished sooner before the option of a dual building demolition was made possible when the same demolition contractor won the Petershill Court project. This will save residents from facing two sets of road and rail closures and evacuations.
“The demolition of the Red Road blocks is an important part of plans to create new, popular and sustainable communities which have already seen more than 250 new homes built nearby,” said Jim Sneddon, GHA’s Executive Director.
The entire Red Road site is due to be demolished and cleared by 2016.
