Winget rescue bid unveiled

But after a 20-year battle, residents of the Winget scheme in Carntyne have finally been told their homes can be saved.

Glasgow Housing Association announced today that structural work on the 993 East End properties would give each house at least another 50 years of life.

The houses - built in the late 1920s using a reinforced concrete design - were designated defective more than 20 years ago due to their structure type.

Bosses described the new development as a "major breakthrough".

However, they admitted the work won't be cheap - it will cost £60,000 to upgrade each home. Fight has lasted over 20 years

Long-suffering residents of the Wingets have fought a hard campaign to save their homes.

The houses were built in Carntyne in the late 1920s. Cheap poured concrete columns were used to support walls that are now buckling as the concrete crumbles.

The 993 properties - a mixture of semi-detached and four-in-a-block styles - were officially declared defective in 1984 and were said to have an average lifespan of six years.

That has meant the threat of demolition has hung over the homes for years.

In 2003, when Glasgow Housing Association took over the management of most of the Wingets, surveys showed the cost of fixing them would be around £40,000 each.

Housing bosses said it might be cheaper to bulldoze the properties and build new homes, but residents were adamant they should be saved.

For the next three years engineers, tenants, homeowners and housing bosses argued over the cost and viability of fixing the estate.

In April 2007 GHA launched a pilot project to finally decide the future of the houses.

The results were revealed today - they can be saved, but it will cost £60,000 each.

GHA says it will pay the £40m for its 696 tenants to have the work done. But the future remains uncertain for the 297 homeowners.

Those who share their block with GHA-owned properties could be eligible for grants.

However, other owner-occupiers may have to fund the work alone.

Banks and building societies are reluctant to lend cash to upgrade buildings such as Wingets, which do not conform to modern building standards.

However, the Evening Times was told by a source work is going on behind the scenes to persuade financial institutions to change their view.

GHA says it is willing to foot the £40million bill to improve nearly 700 properties owned by it.

And grants of at least 50% could be available to 200 residents who own their homes but share their blocks with GHA tenants.

But another 100 homeowners - in stand-alone houses - would have to stump up all the cash for their improvements.

Tenant Gordon Sloan, chairman of the Wingets Strategy Group, said he and other residents were delighted their homes could be saved.

The retired 61-year-old, who has lived in his Ruchazie Road home for 11 years, said: "We've been working to find a workable solution for years - and this was the news we were hoping for.

"We've always been committed to saving our homes.

"But we need to make sure this solution can work for everybody who lives in the Wingets, whether they are tenants or homeowners."

Pensioner Stewart Russell, 76, a tenant in Marfield Road, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon with this news. It's been a long, hard fight but it looks like we've won.

"These houses are 80 years old and there's no reason why they shouldn't go on for another 80 years."

Neighbour Janie Laird, also a tenant, said: "This a brilliant place to live and I was very worried I'd be moved somewhere else.

"I'm so happy we'll be able to stay."

A pilot project commissioned last year by the GHA tested two building solutions, both assessed by a structural engineer in terms of performance, cost and disruption to residents.

Both systems proved successful and would give the homes - which are difficult to secure a mortgage on - a further 50-year lifespan.

Building chiefs chose the Adams system, and if work goes ahead the properties will be stabilised with steel wall ties and a specialised cement slurry.

However, it's still unclear whether major banks would agree to start lending on the properties.

Wilma Masterton, chairwoman of GHA's operations committee, said: "We are delighted the pilot study has been successful in finding a technical solution.

"This is a major breakthrough for the people in Carntyne, who love their Winget homes and want to see them retained.

"Our focus will be on working in partnership with key stakeholders such as the Scottish Government, MSPs and Glasgow City Council to make this solution happen."

Owner-occupier Ann Ayre, who has led a long campaign to save the homes, said she felt vindicated - but was worried homeowners would be left behind.

She added: "This is a victory for the people of Carntyne - we knew all along our homes could be saved.

"But every Winget resident deserves the same treatment over funding.

"And we'll fight on to make sure they get it."

Fellow homeowner Rose Crum, 70, who has lived in her Newington Street home for 29 years, said: "It's very frustrating because we still don't know the full story.

"I'm glad the houses can be saved but I have real concerns about what this will mean for homeowners like me."

Labour MSP Margaret Curran, whose constituency covers most of the homes, said GHA's decision was good news for residents.

She added: "This decision is to be welcomed and I'm pleased a technical solution has been found.

"It's now vital that solutions which fit the needs of all residents are worked through so we can ensure Carntyne remains a thriving community."

MSP Paul Martin said: "This is a very successful outcome for the residents and I will be making representations to the council and parliament to seek funding for all the homeowners.

"I hope we can overcome any remaining hurdles."

A city council spokesman said more work had to be done before the grants could be accessed.

He added: "No decision has been or will be taken with regard to grant assistance until a full technical appraisal of the proposal and costs have been carried out to determine its validity, including acceptability to lending institutions."