Red Road flats: Glasgow's iconic social housing blocks demolished

The buildings became a symbol of isolation, anti-social behaviour and crime

Composite photograph showing six Red Road multi-storey flats being demolished in a controlled explosion in Glasgow, Scotland, as part of Glasgow Housing Association's plan to regenerate communities across the city. (Danny Lawson/PA Wire )

The demolition of iconic blocks of flats in Glasgow did not go to plan after two of the six buildings remained partially upright, leaving residents of nearby properties unable to return home.

The Red Road multi-storey blocks were brought down as part of a Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) plan to regenerate parts of the city and build thousands of new homes.

However, only four of the six buildings were demolished in the operation due, GHA said and apologised to those affected.

The top halves of the two remaining buildings were left at an angle, meaning up to 2,500 people were blocked from their homes for around an hour longer than was scheduled.

Built in the mid-sixties, the Red Road complex towered above Glasgow at 292ft (89metres) – making them the tallest buildings in Europe at the time.

Over the four decades that the buildings served the community, they became a polarising force, according to Professor Lynn Abrams, head of modern history at the University of Glasgow.

“The flats undoubtedly became the symbol to some of all that failed in the city's high rise experiment, associated with isolation, anti-social behaviour and crime,” she said.

“To others, however, it was home. This is where they grew up, where they raised their children. They were an improvement on the housing conditions many had endured in Glasgow's overcrowded and substandard rented sector, they were modern with all mod cons including hot water and indoor WCs.

Two of the blocks were demolished in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Controversial plans to tear down the apartments in a televised broadcast for the Commonwealth Games were scrapped after critics said it would be insensitive to former residents and to asylum seekers who lived in the sixth block.

The Red Road blocks were turned to rubble as researchers in the Housing, Everyday Life and Well Being team at the University of Glasgow carry out a study into the long term experiences of the flats’ tenants during the 1960s and '70s.

Professor Abrams has asked for tenants of Glasgow’s high rise flats during this period to share their memories with her team.

A Glasgow Housing Association spokesman said:"The original plan for today's demolition was that 10 floors of the blocks would remain for dismantling, post blowdown, by machine. However, this did not go completely to plan. Over the next few days the contractors, Safedem, will carry out a review to determine the best way of now completing the demolition."

Additional reporting by PA