The UK RAAC Campaign Group has raised serious concerns about Aberdeen City Council’s lack of transparency, prolonged delays, and potential legal issues concerning the acquisition of RAAC-affected properties in the Balnagask estate. With Council responses frequently delayed or left incomplete, homeowners are left facing an uncertain future and limited options as the Council fails to provide crucial details around the proposed voluntary acquisition, valuation process, and intended demolition of the estate.
Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, has been engaging with the Council since August to obtain clear answers on key questions. Despite Aberdeen City Council representative Stephen Booth’s assurances, responses remain delayed, and essential details continue to be withheld.
Council Responses Raise Alarming Concerns
In a response dated 8th October, Stephen Booth informed Mr. Chowdhry that the Council had only recently decided to proceed with voluntary acquisitions, explaining that “the decision on the council offering to buy back properties was only made at the recent meeting of full council [August 18th].” However, Mr. Chowdhry’s question regarding how the Council intends to deduct roof repair costs from the “current market value” remains unanswered in practical terms. There is no clear rationale provided for why RAAC-affected homes, which the Council itself built and sold without declaring the use of RAAC as a known unsafe building material, should be valued with such deductions. Mr. Booth’s statement that these deductions reflect “one way to arrive at the current Market Value” raises significant concerns among homeowners, who fear their properties are being unjustly undervalued.
Recently, over 70 homeowners in Aberdeen have united in a decision to withhold cooperation from Aberdeen City Council. The majority have agreed not to engage in the voluntary acquisition process until the Council provides written confirmation that the cost of repairing the RAAC panels will not be deducted from the valuation of their homes. Mr. Chowdhry discussed this issue on That's TV, highlighting the community's concerns and call for transparency.
Additionally, Mr. Chowdhry had requested a breakdown of the types of properties involved—such as one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or larger homes—yet this information remains unavailable. Despite a promise on September 17th that this breakdown would be provided within “the next few days,” residents have yet to receive any information, further fueling distrust in the Council’s engagement process.
Legal Validity of Demolition and Development Decision Questioned
Adding to residents’ anxiety, Mr. Chowdhry has requested confirmation on the legality and validity of the Council’s decision to demolish and redevelop the Balnagask estate without fully secured funding. Mr. Booth indicated that while funding has been identified for initial phases, “officers have been asked to look at a variety of ways to have the site redeveloped for housing,” with no guarantee that additional resources will be available. According to Mr. Chowdhry, this raises concerns about the Council’s accountability and whether the decision to proceed with the demolition and redevelopment is legally sound.
Mr. Chowdhry commented on the apparent legal ambiguity surrounding the Council’s decision:
“The decision to approve demolition and redevelopment of the Balnagask estate without secured funding seems neither legal nor valid to me. The 'best value' approach adopted by Aberdeen City Council appears to avoid paying a fair price to homeowners, driven by budget constraints. Moreover, the proposal to demolish and rebuild, despite the lack of funds for construction, seems like a strategic move to evade the same failures faced by West Lothian Council, who lost their Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in 2010 due to serious shortcomings, namely (1) the absence of a formal or approved redevelopment scheme for the Order land and (2) a lack of planning permission, apart from that for the redevelopment of 190 and 192 Deans South.”
A Blight Notice as a Potential Path Forward for Homeowners
Given these prolonged delays, incomplete responses, and lack of transparency, Mr. Chowdhry has requested clarification on whether affected homeowners may be eligible to apply for a Blight Notice under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Should the Council initiate a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), a Blight Notice could allow residents an opportunity to petition for early acquisition of their properties, offering some relief amid ongoing devaluation and lack of clear information on redevelopment plans.
Council’s Responsibility to Provide Answers and Accountability
The UK RAAC Campaign Group has sent an email today strongly urging Aberdeen City Council to expedite its response process and provide transparent information on the valuation and acquisition of RAAC-affected homes. Furthermore, the Council is called upon to clarify the legal and financial grounds underpinning its demolition and redevelopment plans, which have already left residents deeply concerned.
Wilson Chowdhry continued:
“These unanswered questions and persistent delays are causing further distress to residents who have already endured enough due to their RAAC-affected homes. Aberdeen City Council must uphold its responsibility to these residents by providing clear, timely answers and ensuring any redevelopment plan is legally and financially viable from the outset.”
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