25-storey block felled in Sunday implosion.
The regeneration of communities in the North of Glasgow took a step forward today as a 25-storey block of flats was demolished to create space for new homes.
Explosive demolition experts Safedem felled the flats at 20 Rosemount Street in Roystonhill using 40 kg of explosives. The area will now be cleared and transformed with 100 new GHA homes built on the site. Work is expected to start around summer 2014 with the homes finished by early 2016.
The new-build homes at Rosemount Street are part of wider plans to regenerate the North of the city. The plans also include 141 new homes at Sighthill and a further 157 in Barmulloch.
Alex McGuire, Director of Property for Wheatley Group, GHA’s parent company, said: “This is one part of a new beginning for the North of Glasgow. These flats have been home to hundreds of families since 1968 – but their time has come to an end. The regeneration plans will see the area transformed with hundreds of new homes built. We’d like to thank all of the tenants and local businesses for their co-operation during the demolition. And we would particularly like to thank Police Scotland for their help and support today.”
Around 500 tenants in nearby properties were temporarily evacuated for the demolition. Food and entertainment were put on at the nearby St Roch’s Secondary School. Staff from Copperworks Housing Co-operative and Spire View Housing Association were also on hand to help with the evacuation.
The demolition resulted in around 10,000 tonnes of rubble. The clear-up operation will take several months with the steel removed and recycled and the remaining rubble crushed and used as foundations for roads and buildings.
“Everyone has pulled together to make this another safe and successful demolition,” says Safedem managing director William Sinclair. “We’d particularly like to thank nearby residents for their patience and understanding.”
