Residents of Balnagask Estate in Torry remain deeply frustrated with Aberdeen City Council's handling of homes affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). Homeowners have overwhelmingly rejected the Council’s voluntary agreement process, criticizing it as unfair and dismissive of their concerns.
In an open letter addressed to all councillors and Mr. Stephen Booth, Strategic Officer - Corporate Landlord, Wilson Chowdhry urged the Council to suspend the voluntary agreement process until the Scottish Parliament’s Petition Committee completes its investigations. Read the full letter (here)
Wilson Chowdhry, an advocate for affected homeowners, has repeatedly sought essential information from the Council to explore alternative solutions. Despite multiple follow-up emails to Stephen Booth and all councillors, requests for clarity and data remain unanswered.
In a further email to Mr. Booth and councillors, Mr. Chowdhry wrote:
"I’m following up as I have still not received the breakdown of property types in relation to the number of owners promised over 2 months ago, specifically the number of private homeowners for 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-bedroom properties. Additionally, I am still awaiting details regarding any blocks of homes where no council tenants reside. This information is crucial for me to explore potential opportunities for self-funding and to raise the issue of improved terms under the Scheme of Assistance Strategy."
The delay in providing such critical information underscores what Mr. Chowdhry describes as a profound lack of transparency and urgency from the Council. He remarked, “This data is vital for exploring alternative solutions and advocating for fair terms for homeowners. The lack of responsiveness further alienates a community already struggling with the Council’s misguided actions.”
Mr. Chowdhry also highlighted that Mr. Booth appears to be exploiting a misunderstanding within the Torry Community RAAC Campaign Group, whose leaders have inadvertently advised residents that certain offers are no longer available. He emphasized, “This misunderstanding is not their fault but rather a consequence of the Council’s convoluted and overly complex language, which often leaves less experienced individuals struggling to grasp key details.”
This obfuscation, intentional or not, has only served to deepen the mistrust between the Council and the affected community, making it even harder to reach fair and equitable solutions.
Additionally, Mr. Chowdhry's questions, sent on 1st November, remain unanswered, despite several subsequent communications with Mr. Booth. This delay raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability from Aberdeen City Council.
He specifically asked for the Council’s rationale for denying responsibility for RAAC in properties it constructed and sold to private homeowners without disclosure. This omission is compounded by the Council’s approach to deducting roof repair costs from property valuations, which homeowners consider unjust.
The statement that "the Council has ruled out the viability of roof replacement for our own stock, and there is no approved funding route to private owners" adds further confusion. Mr. Chowdhry questioned whether this aligns with the Council’s legal obligations under Section 71 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, which addresses responsibilities for housing defects.
Concerns were also raised about the 2003 Local Government Act’s “best value” requirement. Mr. Chowdhry argued that the Council’s approach—focusing solely on financial cost—fails to account for fairness, socio-economic impacts, and the well-being of affected communities. He emphasized the Council’s legal duty under the Fairer Scotland Duty to address socio-economic inequalities, as well as its commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The lack of public involvement in decision-making was another major concern. Mr. Chowdhry noted that withholding key details on voluntary agreements undermines residents’ ability to engage meaningfully, which breaches Section 10 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
Finally, he questioned the inclusion of demolition and redevelopment proposals for Balnagask without secured construction funding, drawing parallels to the 2010 rejection of West Lothian Council’s Compulsory Purchase Order. Mr. Chowdhry warned that a similar lack of planning could lead to legal and reputational challenges for Aberdeen City Council.
Residents are demanding clear and detailed responses to these pressing issues, along with assurances of fair treatment and adherence to legal obligations.
Scottish Parliament Steps In
On 13th November, the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee reviewed a petition submitted by Wilson and Hannah Chowdhry and responded with robust support. The Committee initiated actions to address the systemic challenges faced by RAAC-affected homeowners, including:
- Engaging industry experts to conduct comprehensive assessments of RAAC risks and recommend effective solutions.
- Collaborating with the Housing Minister to potentially overhaul inadequate local authority assistance schemes that currently exclude funding for essential remedial works.
- Advocating for UK Government funding for RAAC remediation or seeking clarity on whether the Scottish Government will allocate part of the recently confirmed £3.4 billion budget from the UK Chancellor to address the issue.
- Reviewing and updating home report standards to ensure greater transparency for prospective homeowners, alongside considering legislative reforms proposed by Mr. Chowdhry.
- Formally collecting evidence from key stakeholders, with plans to potentially hear directly from the Housing Minister, underscoring the gravity of the issue and the need for immediate action.
The petition remains open, with continued evidence gathering to secure meaningful solutions.
A Call for Action
Aberdeen City Council has faced criticism for continuing with the voluntary agreement process despite widespread opposition and without providing the necessary resources or support to homeowners. Residents view the process as inequitable, with offers falling far short of pre-RAAC-declaration valuations—terms deemed fair by the community.
Mr. Chowdhry also criticized the Council for prioritizing a redevelopment project, despite lacking secured funding. He stated, “The Council’s approach appears to prioritize profit over people. The voluntary agreement process is nothing short of a modern Scottish Clearance, displacing vulnerable residents to pave the way for new developments.”
Next Steps
Mr. Chowdhry and his daughter have requested to speak at the next Council meeting addressing RAAC-related issues, urging the Council to suspend the voluntary agreement process until the outcomes of the Scottish Parliament’s investigation are known.
He concluded, “The actions of Aberdeen City Council have been callous and without empathy. It’s time for them to reflect and take meaningful steps to rebuild trust with the Balnagask community.”
The residents of Balnagask Estate remain united in their demand for fairness and accountability, warning that without just terms, they will resist redevelopment efforts.
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