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RAAC update

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is a material which was used in the construction of many buildings between the 1960s and 1990s. Its presence has been confirmed in a range of public sector properties across the United Kingdom, including schools and hospitals.

There has been significant public and media interest in RAAC recently, particularly in relation to safety in schools, and this page aims to provide parents and customers with reassurance that all appropriate checks and mitigations are in place in West Lothian.

Key points:

  • The safety of our staff and pupils is our top priority, which is why we have taken a proactive approach to address issues around RAAC roofs over the past four years.
  • We have carried out detailed surveys of our school estate and specialist engineers were brought in to offer expert advice on addressing the issue. All areas with RAAC roofs in schools were closed and staff and pupils relocated. Continuity of education has been at the forefront of all the decisions that have been made, with the aim of minimising disruption to the staff and pupils.
  • A small number of schools in West Lothian have RAAC, which are listed below. We have continued to provide information and updates to parents whose children attend schools where RAAC has been identified.
  • Despite significant continued pressure on the council's revenue and capital budgets, major investment has been allocated towards dealing with RAAC. This has enabled remedial works to be carried out in all affected schools. Plans are in place for the remaining buildings.

Schools with RAAC:

The council has taken a proactive approach to dealing with the RAAC situation having gone through a process of identifying RAAC properties beginning in 2020 with a regular inspection and management regime implemented in 2021. It was reported to the Council Executive in June 2021 that five school properties contained RAAC and regular updates have been provided since.

The schools identified are:

  • Knightsridge Primary School
  • Balbardie Primary School
  • Windyknowe Primary School
  • Riverside Primary School
  • St Kentigern's Academy

A summary of the current status of each along with the capital investment provided by the council is noted below:

School

Mitigation Actions

Knightsridge Primary School

  • Full closure in November 2022 following Structural Engineer advice (area of 2,660m2).
  • Total capital investment of £6.7m.
  • Works consisted of the full replacement of the RAAC panels and associated refurbishment works.
  • All works are now complete.

Balbardie Primary School

  • RAAC is contained within the roof area of the 1960's extension only (area of 600m2).
  • Area closed in full from December 2022 following Structural Engineer advice.
  • Total capital investment of £1.9m.
  • Works consisted of the full replacement of the RAAC panels and associated refurbishment works.
  • Balbardie Autism Resource relocated to Bathgate West Nursery building during the period of works from August 2023.
  • All works are now complete.

Windyknowe Primary School

  • RAAC was present within a first-floor area of the school and the Nursery (area of 600m2).
  • Temporary propping was installed to the Nursery Toilets in December 2022, followed by a full closure of the first-floor school area in April 2023, both upon Structural Engineer advice.
  • Total capital investment of £2m.
  • Works comprised the full replacement of the RAAC panels and associated refurbishment works.
  • Nursery was decanted to Bathgate Early Years in Summer 2023 to allow a phased construction programme.
  • Works commenced in June 2023 to replace the RAAC panels in all affected areas.
  • All works are now complete.

Riverside Primary School

  • RAAC is present over the majority of the school (area of 4,000m2);
  • School closed in June 2023. The Nursery was relocated to Letham Primary School from July 2023
  • Primary pupils were relocated to the -vacant Beatlie School from August 2023.
  • A bid for total capital investment of £24m was submitted to the Scottish Government in October 2022 to fund a full school replacement. This has now been approved.
  • Demolition of the existing school is now underway to clear the site for construction of the new Craigshill Primary School .

St Kentigern's Academy

  • RAAC roof panels covered around 4,300m2.
  • Dining and Kitchen areas were closed in November 2022.
  • All remaining RAAC areas were closed in April 2023, including the CDT, PE, Music and Drama departments, Dining, Assembly, Kitchen, Main Plant spaces and circulation areas.
  • The total estimated capital investment is £35m.
  • The school has remained operational throughout the works. CDT workshops were relocated to the Almond Suite within the school grounds, the refurbishment of which was completed in August 2023. Music, CDT, Dining and Modern Languages have been accommodated in on-site temporary accommodation. PE is currently supplemented using other spaces in the community.
  • All RAAC has now been removed; and the demolition of the RAAC areas is underway along with other major works which will facilitate the construction of replacement accommodation for the school.

The council has committed £10.6m in investment to date for progressing with the replacement of RAAC panels at Knightsridge, Balbardie and Windyknowe Primary Schools.  A further £24m for the full replacement of Riverside Primary School and an estimated £35m at St Kentigern's Academy brings the total estimated RAAC spend in the Learning Estate to £69.6m.

No other schools are affected by RAAC

In addition to our learning estate, work to remove RAAC from our community assets has been completed at Fauldhouse Partnership Centre and at Whitburn Community Centre, with work ongoing at Lanthorn Community Centre in Livingston. Funding in the region of a further £7 million is being provided by the council to remove these RAAC roof panels. RAAC has also been identified at Stoneyburn Community Centre which has been closed and the community facility accommodated elsewhere in the local area. A monitoring regime is in place and appropriate further actions are being considered.

Last updated July 2024