UK: I have today sent a new open letter to Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, the First Minister, and Clackmannanshire Council, calling on them to work collaboratively to secure a fair and permanent solution for homeowners in Tillicoultry affected by RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete). 

The letter follows the recent precedent set in Aberdeen, where the Scottish Government allowed flexibility under the Affordable Homes Fund, enabling affected homeowners to receive fixed payments closer to pre-RAAC market values. While the Aberdeen solution is not perfect — homeowners there lost their home-loss grant — it demonstrates that ministerial flexibility, combined with determined local advocacy, can deliver justice. 

Clackmannanshire already has access to the Affordable Homes Budget through the Council and local Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), as part of the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP). This budget is designed to increase the supply of safe, modern, and affordable housing through new builds, acquisitions, and innovative housing projects. 

I am aware that the Council previously submitted an application under this fund in June 2024, which was rejected. However, the circumstances have now changed. Since January 2024, I have actively promoted the use of this fund through blog posts, deputations to West Lothian and Aberdeen City Councils, private meetings with senior officers at Aberdeen City Council and Clackmannanshire Council, and letters to the former Housing Minister — long before MSP Liam Kerr proposed an alternative fund that ultimately failed, and before Màiri McAllan introduced the current flexibility. At that time, there was limited appetite for such a solution. The Aberdeen precedent now provides a clear opening for Clackmannanshire to take action. 

The letter highlights that RAAC roofs in Tillicoultry have shown no further deterioration since evacuation, suggesting that earlier decisions may have been an overreaction. This makes it even more critical that any future funding is used to deliver a lasting, safe, and energy-efficient rebuild rather than temporary remedial works. 

Importantly, I have urged the Housing Minister that any financial flexibility granted to Clackmannanshire must come with a caveat ensuring a fair deal for homeowners. Any application that does not explicitly provide for this should not receive funding. Homeowners have already endured nearly two years of financial hardship, paying both mortgages and rent, and it is the moral responsibility of both the Council and the Government to act decisively. 

Finally, I expressed my disappointment that the Housing Minister has failed to respond to my last four letters on this matter. Continued silence risks prolonging the injustice experienced by Tillicoultry homeowners, and urgent engagement is now required to achieve a fair outcome. 

This is a critical moment. Clackmannanshire has the tools, precedent, and funding framework to deliver justice, safety, and dignity for RAAC-affected homeowners — it is now up to the Council and the Scottish Government to act with urgency.   You can read the full letter (here). 

Wilson Chowdhry 
Chairman, UK RAAC Campaign Group