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The UK RAAC Campaign Group has today criticised Aberdeen City Council’s handling of the ongoing RAAC crisis, warning that the voluntary acquisition scheme is failing and urging the Council to adopt a fairer approach. Later today, Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, will address the full council committee at their Marischal College Headquarters, to challenge the Council’s handling of the crisis and advocate for homeowners who feel abandoned by the current process.
Discussions with Council officers Eleanor Sheppard, Executive Director of Families and Communities, and Stephen Booth, Chief Officer for Corporate Landlord, on 4th February 2025 confirmed that the voluntary acquisition scheme is faltering. Despite initial engagement, the vast majority of homeowners have withdrawn, leaving only four still in discussions. Chowdhry has called this 'a humiliating failure' for the Council, accusing it of wrongly assuming it could pressure residents into selling their homes at undervalued prices. Both officers acknowledged that Mr. Chowdhry had forewarned the Council about this outcome.
Chowdhry will use his address to the Council to emphasise that a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) cannot be pursued without secured funding for a regeneration project or clear evidence of critical structural risk—both of which are currently absent. He will state:
“I warned this Council that the people of Torry would not tolerate such blatant disregard for their rights, and that prediction is proving true.”
Homeowners are not rejecting assistance but are refusing unfair offers that do not reflect the pre-RAAC valuation of their homes. One resident recently challenged an initial £30,000 offer for his flat, arguing that similar properties in the area sold for £65,000. He has since submitted an appeal to the Valuation Office Agency, further exposing the inadequacies of the Council’s compensation proposals.
Alternative Solutions Ignored
Despite homeowners proposing viable alternatives—including a roof replacement scheme and a house swap initiative—the Council has failed to give these or many other options serious consideration till now. Chowdhry will challenge the Council to explain why these options have been ignored in favour of a strategy that prioritizes acquisition over resident-led solutions.
“Why is the Council so intent on acquiring properties rather than exploring solutions that could allow residents to remain in their homes? This raises serious concerns about their true motives.”
He will also advocate for a direct grant system that would allow homeowners to fund their own roof replacements instead of relying on the Council’s more expensive contractors. He will propose a fair, homeowner-driven grant programme that avoids unnecessary displacement.
Council Neglect and Community Impact
The worsening condition of vacated council properties will also be raised. Images circulating on social media show accumulating rubbish and building materials in front gardens, reinforcing doubts about the Council’s commitment to the community-proposed solution.
Chowdhry will demand clarity on discussions with the Scottish Government regarding financial implications, amid concerns that these talks could be a backdoor attempt to force through a CPO without secured funding.
Call for Transparency and Urgent Action
With a budget decision due on 5th March 2025, the UK RAAC Campaign Group is calling on the Council to act with urgency and fairness. Chowdhry will make it clear that if the Council continues to disregard homeowners’ rights, the group will challenge it at every level.
“The UK RAAC Campaign Group stands ready to work with the Council to find genuine, fair, and viable solutions. But if homeowners continue to be ignored, we will not hesitate to take action.”
The group now awaits a response from the Council, urging them to adopt a fair and transparent approach before further trust is eroded.
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