Three outdated and unpopular high-rises at 151, 171 and 191 Wyndford Road in the Maryhill area were brought down by a controlled explosion.

The demolition paves the way for Wheatley Homes Glasgow’s £100m transformation of Wyndford, which will see almost 400 new, energy-efficient larger family homes built, 85% of which will be for social rent.

Around 240 homes were temporarily evacuated to allow the demolition to take place safely and with minimum disruption. Residents within that exclusion zone stayed with family or friends or visited the nearby evacuation centre. All were able to return home early in the afternoon.

Work will start immediately to clear the site and, subject to receiving the necessary consents from Glasgow City Council, Wheatley Homes Glasgow, part of Wheatley Group, expects to start work on the new affordable homes towards the end of 2026.

Frank McCafferty, Wheatley’s Group director of repairs and assets, said: “This is a new dawn for Wyndford, and our regeneration work will transform the area for generations to come.

“We’d like to thank everyone in Wyndford for their support and understanding during this important part of the community regeneration project.

“We will continue to work closely with the community to make sure their voices are at the heart of the transformation of the area.”

Another block at 120 Wyndford Road is being demolished piece-by-piece using TopDownWay technology, with work on that expected to finish by the end of the year. 

The demolition was carried out by Safedem, which has carried out similar projects across the world.

Former tenants of the blocks have either been rehoused in Wyndford or moved to areas of their choice.

The tenant-led Wyndford Futures Focus Group is working with architects to shape the masterplan for the community.

Chris Quinn, co-chair of the Wyndford Futures Focus Group, said: “This is a really exciting time for Wyndford. We are looking forward to working with everyone in the community on future plans which will create a better Wyndford for everyone.”

Around 85% of the new homes planned for Wyndford will be for social rent and 15% for mid-market rent. The homes will have around 900 bedrooms – far more than the four outdated and unpopular multi-storeys, which were made up of bedsits and one-bedroom flats. These new modern homes will help address the need for larger family accommodation in the city.

Plans for the future also include a new community centre, which will be owned and managed by Glasgow City Council.

The £100m regeneration project includes £13m spent on environmental improvements in Wyndford to benefit the wider community, including 500 new bike racks and improved car parking facilities, a new children’s play park, and new and improved neighbourhood green spaces, open areas, improved walkways, and cycle paths.

New CCTV and controlled-entry systems installed in 2023, along with a new concierge station, have already helped reduce anti-social behaviour in the community.