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Glasgow Times
a day ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Caledonia Road high rise flats in Gorbals demolished
Hundreds of onlookers gathered at several vantage points in the Gorbals to watch the buildings be pulled down. The high-rises at 305 and 341 Caledonia Road were brought down using explosives by Dem-Master Demolition. The blocks of flats are owned by New Gorbals Housing Association (NGHA), who decided to remove them to make way for social rent homes. The towers were built in 1971 and are nestled between St Francis' Primary School and the Southern Necropolis cemetery. Hundreds gathered to watch the flats fall (Image: Julie Howden) The exclusion zone for the demolition covered the graveyard and the nearby Gorbals rose gardens. They were two of the last standing Gorbals tower blocks, built in 1965. Each of the Caledonia Road tower blocks rose to 23 storeys. At its peak, the Gorbals was home to 16 of the towering blocks. The demolition comes after the buildings were declared 'unsustainable and unaffordable' to save as they were deemed 'not up to the modern safety standards'. The Glasgow Times previously reported that residents of the high-rise block were first informed of the possible tear-down back in 2020. Today, June 29, the flats have been levelled in a controlled explosion. Locals gathered in their droves, with many feeling "very emotional" at the sight of the blocks coming down. A loud cheer did go up from the crowd as the dust billowed into the air. READ MORE: Major road outside Scottish city closed as emergency services race to scene Fraser Stewart, chief executive of the community-owned New Gorbals Housing Association, previously told the Glasgow Times that saving the blocks was 'unsustainable and unaffordable'. This is due to the inability to bring cladding up to acceptable safety standards without spending a large amount of money on structures that had a limited life span. A total of 152 homes for social rent will be erected in its place, which NGHA hope to have ready within the next few years. The strategy for new homes was agreed between NGHA, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government. Fraser Stewart said the demolition is particularly sad as the blocks provided high quality and well maintained and managed homes right up to when tenants were rehoused back in 2021. He went on to add that it will be a sad and upsetting event for many of the folk who lived good lives in these towers, some for many decades. Though Fraser said 'not one complaint' has been launched since plans for the demolition were confirmed, some locals in the area were torn. The dust billowed into the air after the flats were razed (Image: Julie Howden) READ MORE: Glasgow's Caledonia Road flats to be demolished THIS week - everything we know READ MORE: More: 9 high rise demolitions that reshaped Glasgow's skyline as Caledonia Road next Earlier this year, the Glasgow Times spoke to a number of residents who either live in the area or previously lived in the blocks. One man said the demolition was a great way to make the Gorbals more modern, while a local woman said the blow-down should improve the area. Another man agreed, saying that the demolition is a great idea to build new homes in the area. The block on the west side was brought down first (Image: Julie Howden) However, there were some people who felt saddened by the plans. One man, who has lived in the area "all his days", said it was a great shame to see the blocks coming down. Waddell Court is now the only remaining tower block in the Gorbals. The Sandiefield Road towers were demolished in 2013, with the Norfolk Court towers blowing down in 2016. The Stirlingfauld Place towers were knocked down in 2008. The Queen Elizabeth Square towers were blown up in a controlled explosion in September 1993. Helen Tinney, 61, was part of a large crowd watching the 22-storey flats' demolition when she was struck by a piece of flying debris. Mrs Tinney died in the Victoria Infirmary after collapsing at the scene of the blast.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
I saw the demolition of the Caledonia Road flats in Glasgow
The towers at 305 and 341 Caledonia Road were built in 1971 and will be replaced by the owners, New Gorbals Housing Association (NGHA), with more than 100 new social rent homes. I went along to watch the explosions just outside the large safety exclusion zone. This was my first time seeing a controlled explosion in person, and the whole area was filled with a nervous anticipation. I cycled through the city centre before making my way through Glasgow Green, almost crashing as I started noticing the two 23-storey flat blocks at certain viewpoints. People were already lining the bridges, and some had brought picnic blankets to sit in the park and watch the flats being razed to the ground. The blocks were razed to the ground today, June 29 (Image: Julie Howden) READ MORE: Glasgow Caledonia Road high rise flats in Gorbals demolished READ MORE: Glasgow reacts to Caledonia Road flats demolition in Gorbals I arrived at the roundabout at the end of Caledonia Road before 11am, and a small hive of people had already gathered. Some had been there since they were told to evacuate their homes at 7:30am that morning, and they rushed to leave, making sure to shut their windows to avoid dust. There was a tension in the air as anticipation rose for the controlled explosion, and an emotional atmosphere as many locals shared stories about the high-rise flats. Tales were being exchanged, including stories of people growing fruit on their verandas. One local claimed that he used to leave for work and come home to find that his tomato plant had almost doubled in size due to the heat on the 23rd floor. There were laughs as others shared some stories full of mischief that weren't fit for newspaper publishing. But, many couldn't speak as they were overcome with emotion, and the phrase "end of an era" was repeated by everyone. They also spoke of the "landmark" that the towers were, noting that the many views they had of them would always "remind them they were coming home" - especially when seen from the M74 motorway. I saw the demolition of the Caledonia Road flats in Glasgow (Image: Newsquest) READ NEXT: Major road outside Scottish city closed as emergency services race to scene Just after 1 pm, a warning drone sounded from inside the sealed-off site. Gasps were heard around the street as the hundreds of people who had gathered collectively held their breaths. Then a loud pop started the demolition. First, the left, westerly, high-rise collapsed, shortly followed by the right one. The ground was shaking, and everybody was watching in silence as a cloud of dust billowed into the air. In the silence that lasted for a few seconds, but felt like minutes, the clear blue sky began to emerge from where the 226ft buildings used to be. The crowd broke out in a cheer, which seemed out of place considering the emotional conversations that had been taking place just minutes earlier. The crowds dispersed almost as quickly as the few short seconds it had taken for the high-rises to come down. I stood and looked at the rubble that lay where those stories were now buried before starting my cycle back to the city centre. The dust had blown up the Clyde, and I was coated in a layer of it as I made my way through Glasgow Green again. I couldn't help but stop to look at the space where the blocks had once been, while thinking of veranda-grown tomatoes and the sense of loss felt by the Gorbals community.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow's Caledonia Road flats to be demolished tomorrow
The towers from 305 to 341 Caledonia Road are owned by New Gorbals Housing Association (NGHA), which decided to bring them down to make way for social rent homes. The buildings will be demolished by way of controlled explosion, with the works being led by the demolition contractor, Dem-Master. (Image: Images taken by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) We previously reported that New Gorbals Housing Association said saving the blocks was 'unsustainable and unaffordable' due to the inability to bring cladding up to acceptable safety standards without spending a large amount of money on structures with a limited lifespan. The strategy for new homes was agreed between NGHA, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government. READ NEXT: Glasgow's Caledonia Road flats to be demolished - everything we know (Image: Images taken by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) An exact time has not been provided for the demolition, but it is understood that the explosion will take place in the afternoon. Locals on social media have speculated that the demolition will take place around lunchtime. Anyone from the local area can observe the explosion from a safe distance. To support this, a large exclusion zone will be in place, covering areas such as the Southern Necropolis and the Gorbals Rose Garden. The demolition process will be loud and is likely to result in dust and debris in the area. However, those who wish to watch the demolition can do so from vantage points at Richmond Park or nearby allotments. (Image: Images taken by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) It is set to be a sad day for many who lived good lives in the towers, some for many decades. Earlier this year, the Glasgow Times spoke to a number of residents who either live in the area or previously lived in the blocks - and they were torn. READ NEXT: Glasgow Gorbals residents share thoughts on Caledonia Road demolition One man said the demolition was a great way to make the Gorbals more modern, while a local woman said the removal of the flats should improve the area. Another man agreed, saying that the demolition is a great idea to build new homes in the area. However, some people felt saddened by the plans. One man, who has lived in the area "all his days", said it was a great shame to see the blocks coming down. The demolition will not only mark the end of an era but will also bring further change to the Gorbals skyline, as after the explosion, Waddell Court will be the only remaining tower block in the area. (Image: Demolition of flats at Stirlingfauld Place in the Gorbals. Nick Ponty Staff.) This follows the demolition of the Sandiefield Road towers in 2013, the Norfolk Court towers in 2016, and the Stirlingfauld Place towers in 2008. The Queen Elizabeth Square towers were blown up in a controlled explosion in September 1993. Helen Tinney, 61, was part of a large crowd watching the 22-storey flats' demolition when she was struck by a piece of flying debris. Mrs Tinney died in the Victoria Infirmary after collapsing at the scene of the blast. (Image: Demolition of flats in Queen Elizabeth Square in Gorbals) (Image: Demolition of flats in Queen Elizabeth Square in Gorbals) For more information on New Gorbals Housing Association, visit
