Multi-storey housing blocks in Edinburgh to be demolished

Plans to demolish three Edinburgh tower blocks have been announced by council officials ahead of a critical meeting early next month.

Councillors will consider whether to sign off on the demolition of Oxcars Court and Inchmickery Court in Muirhouse, and Westfield Court in Gorgie, over a range of concerns.

A report going before the December 2 housing committee meeting states that the cost of a refit project for the Muirhouse blocks is now more than the cost of rebuilding them.

Most residents in Inchmickery Court had already been moved out of the building in anticipation of the plans going ahead, while Oxcars Court is still largely occupied.

Meanwhile, a separate report states that the condition of Westfield Court has reached a point where it is not ‘practically or financially viable’ for continued investment to be made.

It represents a major change in the council’s stance on the issues facing the 73-year-old building, with the long-standing plan being to work to mend its various issues.

The report details that some waste outflow pipes in the building have apparently reached a critical point, with repairing or replacing them being uneconomical.

The blocks in Muirhouse are entirely owned by the council, while Westfield Court has a minority of council tenants, with the city serving as a factor.

Housing convener, Labour councillor Tim Pogson, said while discussing Westfield Court that the council had the interests of tenants at heart.

He continued: “It’s just not a situation that we want at all, I can’t think of anything worse than having a situation where dirty water, sewage is coming into properties.

“It’s completely unacceptable on all grounds.”

Cllr Pogson took over the role last month after its former holder, Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, was removed from it by the council’s Labour group.

It came over concerns about comments Cllr Cameron made, which appeared to support a rethinking of the council’s policy on having a certain percentage of new homes be affordable.

The shock plans to demolish Westfield Court came together after the building’s condition was found to have had worsened since a June 2025 condition survey.

Many of the issues with the building centre around failing risers inside the building, which carry utilities up to properties above the ground floor.

The report covering the block noted that all ‘previously notified’ works to address fire safety in the structure – a major concern in recent months – had been completed.

In order to carry out the demolition, the council would need to buy out all the other owners in the building, up from its current position where it owns about a third of the flats.

The report covering it says that ‘next steps’ would be considered for the building’s site, including ‘invest’, ‘redevelop’ and ‘sell site’.

In the two Muirhouse blocks, the council, in owning all the flats, does not need to buy out any private homeowners to enable them to carry out the works.

According to the report covering the two blocks, Inchmickery Court still has one tenant left, while Oxcars Court has 68.

If councillors approve the demolition plans for the Muirhouse buildings, work to remove the existing tenants will start early next year.

It is proposed that a new development of around 150 units, matching the number currently on site, would be built.

However, options for a larger redevelopment with over 300 units are in consideration. A price estimate of around £45 million was given for a 150-bed development.