Edinburgh flats set to be demolished as sewage leaks into homes and pipes cannot be repaired
Edinburgh flats set to be demolished as sewage leaks into homes and pipes cannot be repaired.
A problematic block of apartments in Edinburgh is due to be demolished because the pipes that are spilling sewage into people’s houses cannot be repaired.
The eight-story Westfield Court in Gorgie, erected in 1952, is thought to be nearing the end of its life.
According to a study submitted to the council’s housing committee, sewage pipe leaks have been ongoing for at least ten years.
It continues with this: “In some cases wastewater has penetrated tenants and owners’ homes and caused extensive damage including partially or fully collapsed ceilings.”
The waste pipes are housed in shafts that can only be accessible from within people’s apartments.
The shafts are tiny and long, with no safe access or working platforms, and they contain asbestos.
Despite past attempts to repair the pipes, contractors recently informed the council that some of them are now “beyond practical or technical repair and no longer considered serviceable”.
There are other issues, such as a roof covering that has to be replaced, as well as deteriorating balconies and cladding.
The council owns 32 of the 94 flats at Westfield Court, while the remaining 62 are privately held, and the council functions as the building’s property factor.
Some council tenants have already been relocated from Westfield Court, and on December 2, the housing committee will be asked to approve a plan to negotiate with private owners to buy back their apartments so that the building can be demolished and replaced with new council houses.
Housing convener Tim Pogson said it was difficult to see any option.
He stated: “The initial plan was to repair, invest, and put things right, but that has not been possible. This is not a pricing issue; it is a practical issue with the building’s construction. It’s difficult to see what the alternative could be.
“This is a situation that is only going to get worse – we’re not going to be able to carry out repairs to resolve it.” I can’t think of anything worse than sewage leaking into residences.
This is simply inappropriate. We cannot be held accountable for a structure in which a number of the flats are already uninhabitable.” However, he commented:
“We really need to recognise the sensitivity of the issue – it is people’s homes we are talking about.” Two more high-rise buildings in Edinburgh are also scheduled to be demolished.
Oxcars and Inchmickery Courts in Muirhouse were in need of a major “transformational” remodel and upgrade due to damp and mould issues, water infiltration, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing failures.
However, the original initiative is now described as “non-viable” due to an unexpected increase in project costs from £53.4 million to £86 million.
The council stated that the significant cost increase was caused by the design’s unique issues as well as a lack of market appetite owing to the risk.
All of the occupants in both blocks are council renters. The majority of the 75 flats in Inchmickery Court had already been decanted prior to the start of the refit work, and inhabitants of Oxcars Court will be relocated as well.
According to a report to the housing committee, “the strategy for these sites is changed to full demolition with new build redevelopment of the site to provide between 155 and 169 new properties.”
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