By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Bassetlaw District Council is reassessing a “small section” of its housing stock to determine whether any of the buildings feature potentially unsafe concrete.
However, the Labour-led council says it currently believes no buildings in its ownership contain the failing material – but has decided precautionary checks are needed.
The announcement comes amid concerns more than 100 schools across the country may be at risk due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, or RAAC.
RAAC is a lightweight, bubbly form of concrete usually found within roofs but sometimes in walls and floors.
It was favoured in construction projects from the 1950s to the mid-1990s before being found to be weak and less durable than traditional concrete.
Experts say it is susceptible to failure as it deteriorates over time, with a life expectancy of little more than 30 years.
It has been found in nearly 150 schools nationally, including Holy Trinity Catholic Academy in Newark.
The trust in charge of the school says it has delayed the start of its September term until next week so temporary classrooms can be prepared.
Other public buildings found with the failing concrete in recent years include Bassetlaw Hospital.
The hospital trust in charge of the Worksop site confirmed this year all signs of RAAC had been eradicated as part of a Government-backed scheme.
However, Brendan Clarke-Smith (Con), the district’s MP, wrote to Bassetlaw District Council this week asking for assurances about other public buildings.
This included the council’s housing stock as well as other buildings like the authority’s main offices in Worksop and Retford.
Mr Clarke-Smith said in a letter: “The 1950s-1990s represent the period when the largest number of social housing was built.
“I would like to ask which surveys have already been carried out and any related risk assessments and works either already undertaken or planned in the future to remove any RAAC which could pose potential safety issues.”
Now the authority has responded to confirm it is assessing a number of homes in its housing stock alongside other buildings it owns.
However, the authority says it does not believe RAAC has been used in “any of our buildings”.
David Armiger is the council’s chief executive.
In a statement, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “All of our premises are regularly inspected and we follow the most up-to-date guidance to ensure our buildings are safe for people to use and to live in.
“The use of RAAC predominantly features in particular categories of structures built within a limited period of time.
“Based on these regular inspections, we do not believe that RAAC has been used in any of our buildings.
“However, we are undertaking an urgent reassessment of a small section of our housing stock, and other buildings in the council’s ownership, to determine if RAAC is present.
“We will publish these results as soon as they are available.”
A number of other councils across Nottinghamshire have also confirmed none of their public buildings or homes include the presence of RAAC.
This includes Mansfield, Ashfield, Gedling, Nottinghamshire and Rushcliffe councils, which all responded to the Local Democracy Reporting Service to say they do not have properties where the material is present.
