© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
Three 26-storey tower blocks in Glasgow’s Wyndford estate were brought down in a matter of seconds in a controlled demolition, dramatically reshaping the skyline of the city’s northern district. The towers, originally built in the late 1960s, were demolished to pave the way for nearly 400 new homes.
During the operation, an exclusion zone was established, and residents from 240 nearby properties were temporarily evacuated. A fourth high-rise block in the estate will also be removed, though it will be dismantled gradually rather than through explosives.
The Wyndford estate, constructed in the Maryhill area on the former site of Glasgow City Barracks, once housed around 6,000 people across several high-rise buildings. While some residents had opposed the demolition, advocating for refurbishment instead, housing association Wheatley Homes stated that the flats were no longer fit for purpose and could not be adapted to meet modern housing standards.
The redevelopment will replace the 600 high-rise flats with 386 affordable homes. Plans also include a new community hub featuring a hall, café, meeting rooms, and computer access, enhancing local amenities.
Locals gathered to witness the dramatic demolition, with some expressing nostalgia for the buildings. Former resident Trisha Rankin, who delivered newspapers in the towers as a teenager, described the experience as “very emotional.” She recalled, “There were a lot of lovely families and pensioners in those flats, but over the years, they deteriorated. It was time to bring them down.”
Alasdair MacMahon, another former resident, echoed this sentiment, stating that while the community spirit in the flats had been strong, the buildings had served their purpose.
To assist affected residents, a nearby secondary school was used as an evacuation centre, providing breakfast and lunch. Those living within the exclusion zone received £100 Tesco gift vouchers as compensation for the disruption. Measures were also taken to protect the surrounding area, including covering stained-glass windows at St Gregory’s Catholic Church and using misting systems to minimise dust. Residents were advised to keep windows shut and pets indoors, while cleanup teams conducted street sweeping and jet washing after the event.
Wheatley Homes’ group director of repairs and assets, Frank McCafferty, described the demolition as marking a “new dawn” for the area, promising a transformation for generations to come. Meanwhile, Chris Quinn, co-chair of the Wyndford Futures Focus Group, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming changes, stating, “This is a really exciting time for Wyndford. We look forward to working with the community to create a better future for everyone.”
Approximately 85% of the new homes will be designated for social rent, with the remaining 15% allocated for mid-market rent. Additionally, Glasgow City Council will oversee the development of a new community centre, ensuring that the area benefits from enhanced social infrastructure.