Glasgow's iconic Red Road tower blocks are to be demolished as part of the Opening Ceremony at this year's Commonwealth Games, it has been announced.

The demolition, which will happen live and be viewed from around the world, will signify the city's focus on providing regeneration and a positive future for its residents.

Five of the six remaining 30-storey blocks will be demolished for the ceremony and will take approximately 15 seconds to happen.

In a statement, the local authority said the move would not only demonstrate how Glasgow is confidently embracing the future and changing for the better, it will also serve as a respectful celebration of the role the Red Road flats have played in shaping the lives of thousands of city families for whom these flats have simply been home more than five decades.

The blocks, which are owned by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), were originally due to be demolished over the next two years, but GHA looked at the possibility of bringing five down at once to minimise the number of times residents had to be evacuated. One block – 33 Petershill Court – is currently used to house asylum seekers and will come down at a later stage.


The blocks will be demolished under strictly controlled conditions with more than 1,250kg of explosives being used by demolition experts Safedem. Safedem were also responsible for razing to the ground two of the Red Road blocks in 2012 and 2013.

Eileen Gallagher, Independent Director on the Glasgow 2014 Board and Chair of the Ceremonies, Culture and Queen's Baton Relay Committee said: "By sharing the final moments of the Red Road flats with the world as part of the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow is proving it is a city that is proud of its history but doesn't stand still. A city that is constantly regenerating, renewing and re-inventing itself.

"Glasgow's story is always one of its people; their tenacity, their genuine warmth, their ambitions. Marking the end of Red Road is very much a celebration of all of those things."

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, added: ""The Opening Ceremony will be the moment when we welcome the world to Glasgow. It will be a ceremony like no other, showcasing our city's unique style and personality and with our people and communities at its very heart. We are going to wow the world, with the demolition of the Red Road flats set to play a starring role.

"Red Road has an iconic place in Glasgow's history, having been home to thousands of families and dominating the city's skyline for decades. Their demolition will all but mark the end of high-rise living in the area and is symbolic of the changing face of Glasgow, not least in terms of our preparations for the Games."

Built between 1964 and 1969 on the site of a former cabbage patch, Red Road was constructed to address Glasgow's growing housing needs and once provided accommodation for almost 5,000 people. While the buildings initially offered a clean modern design and facilities such as central heating and bathrooms for residents, a decline in demand and popularity, along with high investment and running costs, saw them earmarked for demolition as part of the wider regeneration of the area.

(JP)