Plans to demolish flat block put on hold after protest

A decision on whether to demolish a block of flats in Edinburgh has been delayed.

Plans to carry out repair work on Westfield Court in Gorgie were thrown out in favour of levelling the 73-year-old building due to issues with waste pipes earlier this year.

Protesters interrupted a meeting of the council's housing committee on Tuesday demanding councillors reject those proposals in favour of carrying out renovations.

Housing officials will now investigate issues around the planned demolition before a final resolution is decided.

A report on the condition of the building in June 2025 raised serious concerns over the cladding, the roof and its heating system.

It also stated damage to "waste outflow pipes" had reached a critical state.

The report added the condition of the block – which was built in 1952 – would continue to deteriorate and put the concrete frame at risk, which could result in "external panels not adequately being supported".

Labour councillor and housing convener, Tim Pogson, said the building posed "significant physical risks".

But protesters who disrupted the meeting said the issues had been raised with the council on multiple occasions.

They argued that repairs should have been carried out earlier, before the building was allowed to fall into disrepair.

The committee was also told that some tenants had learned about the demolition plans in the press.

Councillors backed a combined SNP, Green and Liberal Democrat position to have officers explore several issues raised about the demolition.

A Conservative motion which would have supported the position of officers to move ahead with demolition of the building, while supporting owners of flats inside the block, was defeated.

Additional reporting by local democracy reporter Joe Sullivan.