UK: The first-ever RAAC protest in Renfrewshire took place outside Renfrewshire Council offices on Saturday, 11th October 2025, as homeowners and campaigners demanded urgent government action, transparency, and fairness. Organised by the UK RAAC Campaign Group, the protest drew national media attention through STV News and highlighted the deepening crisis faced by residents affected by dangerous RAAC-constructed homes. 

A small but determined group of campaigners gathered outside Renfrewshire Council offices to protest against the ongoing lack of government engagement and transparency surrounding Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in local homes. 

Around ten people attended the demonstration, including Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, who organised the event; Hannah Chowdhry, Co-Deputy Chair; and Jodie Hillcoat, Chair of the Renfrewshire RAAC Campaign Group. Despite the modest turnout, the protest marked an important milestone — the first demonstration held in Renfrewshire for RAAC-affected homeowners. 

Mr Chowdhry had invited STV to cover the event exclusively, and the broadcaster responded with a feature news segment that combined footage from the Renfrewshire protest with coverage of another demonstration held on the same day in Aberdeen. The national coverage helped highlight the growing frustration among Scottish homeowners who have been left without clear communication, support, or financial assurance regarding the safety of their RAAC-affected homes. 

STV's Laura Perry filmed the protest for the 6pm News. 

The protest centred on the lack of consultation by Bridgewater Housing Association and Linstone Housing Association, both of which are moving ahead with large-scale roof replacement works without engaging with residents. In total, over 329 households in Erskine and Linwood are directly affected, yet many remain uninformed about inspection findings, project timelines, or potential costs. 

For many affected residents, the situation is especially distressing because they purchased their homes directly from the housing associations, often believing they were investing in secure, affordable ownership. Now, those same organisations act as both the developer responsible for the original construction defects and the commercial entity seeking to recoup repair costs — leaving homeowners trapped in a conflict of interest. Without government intervention, residents fear they will be unfairly burdened by costs and left at the mercy of biased housing associations prioritising financial recovery over fairness. 

Speaking at the event, Mr Chowdhry called for greater transparency, accountability, and direct engagement from both local and national government. He has since written to First Minister John Swinney and Housing Minister Màiri McAllan, requesting a public meeting with affected homeowners in Renfrewshire to discuss safety, funding, and fair treatment. 

“This is a crucial moment to protect resident safety and restore public trust,” Mr Chowdhry said. “RAAC-affected families deserve honesty, support, and a seat at the table. The government must now show leadership and meet directly with those whose lives have been turned upside down by this crisis.” 

Jodie Hillcoat, who has been representing Renfrewshire homeowners since the issue emerged earlier this year, described the ongoing situation as “devastating” for many families: 

“People are living in constant fear and uncertainty,” Ms Hillcoat said. “They don’t know if their homes are safe, what the future holds, or how they will cope if massive repair bills are passed on to them. Many bought their homes in good faith from housing associations that are now treating them like customers instead of victims. It’s heartbreaking to see entire communities suffering while those in power refuse to listen or even meet with us. We need compassion, answers, and real action — not silence.” 

The Renfrewshire protest follows growing national momentum across Scotland as more communities discover that their homes contain RAAC — a lightweight concrete material used in mid-20th century construction that is now known to degrade dangerously over time. 

Future protests are already being planned, with further demonstrations expected outside Bridgewater and Linstone Housing Associations in the coming weeks. 

Residents and supporters are encouraged to sign the official petitions demanding urgent government action on RAAC: 

Scottish Parliament petition: https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2113 

UK Parliament petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730731 

Campaigners hope that by continuing to raise awareness — both on the streets and in the media — they can finally secure the justice, safety, and transparency that every affected homeowner deserves.