WORK Continues On 1,000 Home Demolition Programme

Thursday, 16 February 2012 |

RIVER Clyde Homes is almost half way through a plan to knock down 1,000 unpopular Inverclyde properties.

The housing association is coming to the end of its £3.5million demolition programme for 2011/12 which has targeted 400 homes. Things step up a further gear this coming financial year as a £4.5million demolition programme is put in place with some 600 units being taken from the stock.

River Clyde Homes is moving towards bringing all its sustainable properties up to the national Scottish Housing Quality Standard by the end of 2015. This means demolishing those homes which are either unpopular or uneconomical to refurbish.

This week, two five-storey blocks in the Mallard Bowl area of south west Greenock were demolished, pictured. The properties in Mallard Crescent and Partridge Road were both built in the late 1960s using building methods that do not meet modern standards. Once the sites have been cleared the land will be transferred back to Inverclyde Council.

Next month work will begin to demolish the ‘Banana Blocks’ in Oronsay, Port Glasgow. Eight of the original nine blocks remain and all will be taken down and the ground landscaped. The last two blocks in Park Farm at Westray Avenue and Stroma Avenue will be demolished at the same time.

Lynne Carr, chief executive at River Clyde Homes, said: “It is always with a hint of sadness that buildings such as these are demolished as they did provide good family homes for more than 30 years and met the housing needs of the time. Sadly blocks like these become unpopular with tenants and are actually so poorly built that it’s not worth investing the money to upgrade them.”

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