A 25-storey block of flats have been demolished in Glasgow to make way for new homes in the area.

The Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) confirmed the flats at 20 Rosemount Street in Roystonhill were demolished in a controlled explosion, using 40kg of explosives. Work will now begin to clear the site before it is transformed to make way for 100 new GHA homes.

Work is due to begin around summer 2014 with the homes completed by early 2016.

The scheme is part of wider plans to regenerate the North of the city, which includes a further 141 new homes at Sighthill and 157 homes in Barmulloch.

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Many of the former residents at Rosemount Street were re-housed locally in one of GHA's new or upgraded homes or in other social landlords new-build properties.

The demolition itself resulted in almost 10,000 tonnes of rubble, with the clear-up operation expected to take several months to complete. The steel from the former structure will be recycled, while the remaining rubble will be crushed and used as foundations for roads and buildings.

Alex McGuire, Director of Property for Wheatley Group, GHA's parent company, said: "This is one part of a new beginning for the North of Glasgow. These flats have been home to hundreds of families since 1968 but their time has come to an end.

"The regeneration plans will see the area transformed with hundreds of new homes built."

(JP/CD)