andOr nearly four years, a fierce discussion erupted about the future of Wyndford in GlasgowDivide the population and ignite the wider national controversy. Was it highly demolished in a state of environmental distraction or the first step towards the renewal that is needed?
The conflict began in November 2021, days after the city hosted the United Nations Conference COP26, in which politicians and companies promised to limit the destruction of construction. However, Windows Population soon found Publications on the threshold of its doors filling a “bright new future” One included the demolition of all four tall lumps on the estate. The decision started years of protests, legal challenges and community departments.
The battle reached its head on Sunday, when three of the four blocks of the four tower in the 1960s were reduced to ruins in a demolition process.
Wyndford Estate was built between 1961 and 1969 on the previous military barracks site. Employed by the Harold McMellan government, it was intended for a high -quality general housing model, and it refuted the legacy of Glasgow from cheap and weak social residence.
But after 60 years, part of that vision faded. Its tall apartments consisting of one bedroom have become synonymous for rent in the short term, and described a hot point of neglect and social deprivation. The Whitley group, the largest owner in Scotland, argued that the blocs are no longer suitable for the purpose and must be replaced by modern family homes.
A specific alliance of population, activists, and conservatives, led by the Windford Residents Union (WRU), opposes the demolitions. At the heart of their campaign, the belief that the destruction of social housing during the housing crisis was not only irresponsible but unnecessary.
Despite the protests, professions and legal challenges, the Witti group remained fixed. AISLING MyLrea, Wheatley Homes Glasgow, emphasized that legal challenges have been closed every time and that all the permissions were present to demolish to move forward. She said: “More than 85 % of the tenants in the scheme supports demolition and investment of 100 million pounds that will follow the region,” she said.
“All of this will be good for society. Words” focus “and” the future “are important – everyone needs to focus on the ultimate goal,” said Henry McLaren, a resident of Windouford and a member of the Future Focus group that Witti.
From the beginning, whatly Group insisted that modifying the tall apartments and making them in the largest homes is constantly impossible and indicated that the popularity of high social housing is decreased. However, many activists opposed the claim that the modernization was not viable.
An alliance of architects, conservative specialists and engineers conducted studies indicating that the buildings could have been updated and replaced. Malcolm Fraser, a pioneering architect and activist, also called the number 85 % questioned to support the demolition, on the pretext that no alternative to the demolition was provided seriously. He said: “This number only reflects a few hundred tenants who responded, and they have never been given the option of modernization.”
With the approaching date of the demolition, tensions are launched. For many population, it occupied the blatant reality of controlled explosions in their neighborhood. Fears of further protests and masses pushed the demolitions to the security station 24 hours a day at the entrance to each tower. People who live near the demolition site expressed their fears of their homes, and they were angry after they got a 100 -pound Tesco voucher as compensation for evacuating their property for up to 10 hours on the day of the explosion.
The Whitley Group assured the residents that all safety measures have been fulfilled, saying: “Safedem are the world’s leading contractors. They have carried out a similar demolition around the world, ensuring the removal of all asbestos and dangerous materials in advance.”
Wheatley Group says it wants to replace 600 bedroom apartments with 400 new family homes, noting an urgent need for larger modern housing in Glasgow. However, activists are still not convinced that this will really benefit society, given the general reduction in social housing units. When the dust settled on the day of the demolition, Nick Dorie, Alba’s politician and a member of WRU, explained that the battle has not ended yet. “This is not the end – it’s just the beginning. Our battle will continue after a long period of demolition. We will protest as we challenge each stage of the new development until they are committed to replacing all the 600 social houses that they destroyed,” he said.
Besides the loss of homes, the demolition has caused criticism from climate activists and architects who are bothering them with environmental losses. With an estimated 47,000 tons of embodied carbon that was released in the demolition process, some argue that destruction contradicts the climatic obligations offered in COP26.
The frustration freezer summarized: “I know that every building we put today will last for about 40 years. These apartments, if they have been updated properly, can last for centuries. We need to stop this cycle of waste and destruction.”
Politics at the UK level exempts new buildings and demolition from VAT has only strengthened the preference for demolition over the update modification. Critics warn that without changes in politics, the session will continue: “The major companies are threatening to hit old buildings, prepare them for floors and start again. Thus it continues and continues.”
Three of Wyndford Towers have now been reduced to the rubble, as it has joined many tall plans that disappeared from the Glasgow horizon. However, the battle around their legacy – discussions about the environmental cost of demolition and the future of social housing – are still far from stability.
