Wyndford tower blocks brought down by controlled explosion

Three high-rise tower blocks have been blown up to make way for new homes to be built on the site.

Explosives brought down the 26-storey towers at 151, 171 and 191 Wyndford Road in the Maryhill area on Sunday.

Residents from nearby properties were evacuated while an exclusion zone was set up in the surrounding area.

An evacuation centre was put in place at Cleveden Secondary School, offering breakfast and lunch as well as activities for children.

Residents living within the exclusion zone were given Tesco gift vouchers worth £100.

Those living nearby had been asked to keep all pets indoors, ensuring they couldn’t escape through cat flaps, open windows, or doors. Fishponds and rabbit hutches were also asked to be covered.

St Gregorys Church on Kelvindale Road was closed and the 10am service was instead held at St Charles’s at 1 Kelvinside Gardens.

Crowds gathered to watch the demolition. STV News

Dust suppression systems (misting systems) were positioned around the site to minimise dust, but locals are asked to close all doors, windows, and vents and not hang washing out.

Anyone with a respiratory condition was recommended to avoid the area.

Clean-up teams were expected to move in quickly following the demolition, with measures from street sweeping to jet washing, with priority given to footways and roads so residents could return home as soon as possible.

The aftermath of a controlled explosion bringing down the Wyndford flats. STV News

All tenants left the Wheatley Homes Glasgow properties last year in preparation for the demolition.

Three high-rise tower blocks were demolished. STV News

‘TopDownWay’ technology is being used to bring down 120 Wyndford Road. The system, which was used in 2015 at the multi-storeys in Gallowgate, includes a platform installed at the top of the building, allowing demolition experts to remove walls and floors piece by piece.

The housing association had faced opposition from a small number of residents who believed the buildings should be retained and restored.

Campaigners launched a judicial challenge against Glasgow City Council for granting permission for the demolition without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

However, a Court of Session judge ruled that the assessment was not required.

Nearly 400 new homes will be built in place of the towers, 85% of which will be social housing and 15% for mid-market rent.

The new homes will include a mix of one/two/three/four-bedroom houses and flats and will create a minimum of 900 bed spaces.

A spokesperson for Wheatley Homes previously told STV News: “The tenant-led Wyndford Futures Focus Group is working with architects to shape the master plan for the community.

“The £100 million regeneration of Wyndford will see nearly 400 new, energy-efficient larger homes built – 85 per cent of which will be for social rent – which will transform the neighbourhood not only for the people who live there today, but for families and generations to come.”

Other plans include a newly built community centre owned and managed by the council, improved walkways and cycle paths, a children’s play park, 500 new bike racks and car parking spaces.

The new homes will have 900 bedrooms and new CCTV and controlled-entry systems to reduce anti-social behaviour.