| Dundee City Council has earmarked the Butterburn Court and Bucklemaker blocks for demolition, but Wates Construction’s survey suggests renovation may be viable.
Wates estimates it would cost around £21,000 per flat to upgrade them to the new Scottish Housing Quality standards.
Derby Street Residents Association secretary Sarah Glynn said saving the buildings would cost only £3.5m more than bringing them down.
“The figures work out at £21,000 per flat, or only £9200 over the council’s estimate for the cost of demolition,” she said.
“This would cover new cladding, new kitchens and bathrooms, new electric heating, rewiring and new front doors, as well as improvements to communal areas. We have demonstrated that for a relatively small investment, Dundee council tenants could have access to 374 secure, comfortable and well-designed centrally located homes —with great views.”
More than 80 flats are still occupied in the two buildings.
In October, housing convener Jimmy Black asked for a re-examination of the council’s demolition programme, but the Derby Street blocks are still in line to be razed.
A council spokesperson said a copy of the study had been passed to technical officers to assess.
Cllr Black said the council’s estimate to renovate both building came in at a much higher level, between £9m and £14m.
He said, “A lot depends on the way the work is done and whether the flats would be insulated by cladding the exterior of the buildings or the interior of each flat.”
Next year the council plan to carry out a survey to determine potential demand for the properties.
Cllr Black has appealed to people on the housing waiting list to come forward if they would like one of the flats.
“The question is if there would be enough demand for the flats once they have been renovated, he said.
“In the New Year we will meet with the residents association to discuss various ways to move forward and if the project could be viable.” |
