February 13 2025

North Lanarkshire Council has agreed to demolish three Motherwell tower blocks in the latest phase of its housing renewal plan.

The local authority will level the Allan, Coursington, and Draffen Towers by simultaneous controlled explosion as the most efficient means to clear the site, with preparatory works beginning back in 2020. Beset by delays the demolition process is now expected to take place towards the end of this year.

Chief housing officer Stephen Llewellyn commented: “We recognise that this process has taken longer than anticipated and has caused some disruption, but safety remains our top priority. The controlled blowdown method has been carefully selected following extensive specialist surveys and consultations with expert demolition engineers.”

A further seven tower blocks in the town, plus one in Coatbridge, have been identified for demolition based on tenant demand and investment need. 

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Lovely on 14 Feb 2025 at 10:01 AM

It tells you everything you need to know that it now takes us over 5 years to demolish a building in Scotland these days.

#2 Posted by MJ on 14 Feb 2025 at 14:56 PM

Unless they can drop these 18 storey towers with absolute precision within their own footprint, there is a risk that at least two of the three towers could cause collateral damage to adjoining properties and roads. Still, the Council + explosives. What could possibly go wrong?

#3 Posted by Mark on 14 Feb 2025 at 20:31 PM

"…based on tenant demand and investment need" - but if the tower blocks had been upgraded, there might be demand for them, and what would upgrading the tower blocks cost relative to demolition, site clearance, then building the equivalent amount of new housing units?

In the 1960's we demolished thousands of tenements which could have been refurbished, and in the 2000's we're demolishing scores of tower blocks, likewise. It's depressing that we seemingly haven't learned anything.

#4 Posted by Lovely on 16 Feb 2025 at 10:06 AM

Mark's absolutely right: we desperately need better accounting for these massive decisions and the sheer waste involved. Admittedly, these blocks are shockingly ugly, and unlike the Wyndford flats, I see virtually nothing redeeming about them.

It's particularly concerning that we're potentially repeating the same mistakes yet again for a shocking 3rd or 4th time as we prepare to erect a whole ganglion of new towers around Kingston Bridge and Charing Cross. These structures are low-quality, totally unsustainable, and represent truly dreadful urban design. Will they too be facing the wrecking ball in 20 or 30 years? It's insanely wasteful and inhumane. Why does Glasgow always get the smelly end of the stick with these crazed experiments? Can't we just have some ordinary, good-quality, human life in the city and its surroundings....

#5 Posted by Mark on 16 Feb 2025 at 17:07 PM

#4 - Amen to that. I had hoped that the advent of embodied energy calc's and awareness of the carbon footprint would force councils/ housing associations/ developers to pause and *seriously* consider alternatives to demolition. Arguably that could be a much greater contribution to being "sustainable" than deciding to fit a heat pump rather than a gas boiler. It looks like we still don't get it, though.

#6 Posted by MJ on 17 Feb 2025 at 14:22 PM

North Lanarkshire Council have a 20 year plan to demolish all of their tower blocks and replace with low rise Council housing. I think most people understand that while high rise doesn't generally work very well for social housing (and yes there are exceptions) it can be successful for other forms of tenure.

Post your comments