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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Holly Lennon

Wyndford flats to be blown up in controlled explosion as demolition plan unveiled

Four high-rise tower blocks in the Maryhill area will be blown up next year as part of demolition plans.

Wheatley Group is looking to get rid of the 26-storey flats on Wyndford Road and replace them with 300 new homes for social and mid-market rent.

The social landlord is forging ahead with the plans, despite backlash from a group of residents who believe the buildings should be retained and upgraded.

Read more: Barlinnie prison rammy as packages thrown over jail wall into exercise yard

The demolition process is expected to take around two years beginning with an initial "soft strip" before a controlled explosive demolition is carried out.

An outline of plans explains that the blocks will be taken back to their concrete frame including removing all internal non-load bearing walls, partitions, linings, floor finishes, ceiling finishes, and services.

The demolition contractor will undertake the explosion and then recycle and remove the leftover material from the site.

It adds: “The programme duration is approximately 24 months.”

A 150-metre exclusion zone will be erected during the explosion phase with an evacuation centre provided for residents living nearby.

We previously told how Historic Environment Scotland concluded that the buildings are not of "special architectural or historic interest".

Their report added: "We assessed the four high-rise blocks at Wyndford Road, Maryhill. Our assessment found that the buildings do not meet the criteria of special architectural or historic interest required for listing.

“While the blocks have some importance in the context of post-war housing provision, our assessment concludes that they are not early, unusual or rare examples of their building type, and that they have also been substantially remodelled.”

Campaigners had hoped that the buildings would be saved from demolition if given listed status by the heritage watchdog. Two prominent architects have backed their calls to save the building outlining their alternatives to demolition.

Wheatley Homes have set out plans to invest £73 million in the community, including building hundreds of new net-zero, new-build homes and green spaces.

They said that 94 per cent of residents have "successfully and happily moved out of the tower blocks into much more suitable, attractive and quality homes".

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