The tragedy that befell the residents of Grenfell Tower in London in 2017 forced safety reviews of similar properties all across the country — and instigated the long fall of Ayr's High Flats.
That year, the three Riverside Place buildings were given the all clear following a survey of the cladding, but South Ayrshire Council opted to carry out a more extensive assessment, spending just over £1 million on improvements between 2017 and 2019.
The following summer, the council commissioned TCS to carry out a structural survey of the three buildings. It was the reported back to the Leadership Panel that it would cost an additional £28m to £35m on top of more than £2m already allocated.
However, an earlier unpublished feasibility report from July 2017 had identified almost all of the same requirements as the 2018 report as well as a number of non-essential 'advisable' improvements.
In this earlier report the council had been told it would cost £16.9m to carry out both the essential and advisable works and just £9.65m for essential works on their own.
South Ayrshire Council has responded that the £12m to £18m difference was purely the result of more 'invasive' surveys than had been carried out the previous year.
Within the 2018 report, no distinction was made between essential and advisable work, with a number of non-essential elements being carried over into the final assessment.
The cost assessment was a crucial piece of information as demolition was being mooted in two separate options, and at a lower cost than refurbishment.
The first of these options was set at around £4m — largely through demolition costs. The second was given a price tag of between £8.5m and £10.5m. The third was to refurbish.
At the time of the survey of residents there had been no indication that there would be a limit should the rebuild option be taken up. It was later revealed that only 90 new homes would be built on the site, down from 234 in the high flats.
Despite the massive disparity in financial outlay, the refurbishment of the flats was the most popular choice.
However, the council opted to roll both the options involving demolition together, resulting in the 'vote' for demolition coming out on top.
Had the figures for essential work assessed in 2017 been used, both it and the replacement options would have had very similar financial outlays.
A council spokesperson said: "Throughout the period since 2017, the council has actively engaged with tenants at Riverside Place, Ayr.
"Immediately following the tragic incident at Grenfell, the council commissioned a survey to identify immediate works and to provide reassurance to tenants.
"The feasibility survey in July 2017, was based on limited information and non-disruptive visual surveys.
"A further structural survey was commissioned by the council, this full structural survey involved a more invasive approach which included the removal of cladding, insulation and involved coring into parts of the walls and other elements of the structure.
"The results from this survey identified findings the council was previously unaware of. The new findings provided far greater detail than was previously available and this was used to update the required scope of works and the estimated costs for refurbishment, if the flats were to be retained for use on a long-term basis by the council.
"The updated and increased estimated costs following the full structural survey took account of the additional elements of works identified, along with the estimated costs associated with rent loss, decant costs and professional fees.
"The findings from the updated survey were notified to tenants in June 2018. In November 2018, the council approved a process of consultation with tenants in relation to the long-term future of the multi-storey blocks.
“In June 2019, following the extensive consultation process and taking into the consideration the feedback from tenants at Riverside Place, the council considered all options and unanimously approved the demolition of the three multi-storey blocks at Riverside Place.
"Following the council’s decision, officers have worked with tenants to find housing which meets their needs and we have successfully secured alternative housing options for the majority. We continue to support and work with the remaining tenants.”
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