Motherwell's skyline changed on Sunday as the trio of towers was brought down in a meticulously planned operation, closing more than 50 years of high-rise housing in the town.

The 20-storey blocks were built between 1969 and 1970 and together provided 351 homes over five decades.

The blowdown on Sunday 7 December 2025 came after months of preparation to protect residents, businesses and the surrounding area. From 8.30am to 4.00pm, an exclusion zone covered 271 homes and 10 commercial properties, with road closures, pedestrian restrictions and dust-suppression measures in place. A dedicated drop-in respite facility was also available to nearby residents.

Two local figures performed the final act by triggering the implosions: Danny Devine, 91, who spent 25 years as caretaker while living in Allan Tower, and Joseph Carroll, a nine-year-old Cathedral Primary pupil documenting the demolition for a school project.

Stephen Llewellyn, Chief Housing Officer with North Lanarkshire Council, said: "This is a significant moment for Motherwell. We're grateful to residents and local businesses for their patience and cooperation during this complex process. "Safety has been our top priority, and the demolition has been carried out with expert planning and precision. "We're now looking ahead to the next chapter, clearing the site and preparing it for regeneration, with plans already in development for new mixed-amenity homes to benefit the local community. "This was a challenging but thoroughly well-prepared project. Extensive planning, structural analysis, and safety measures meant the controlled blowdown went exactly as intended. It's always rewarding to see such a complex demolition carried out safely and successfully."

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The demolition was delivered by Thompsons of Prudhoe, with support from the emergency services. Water suppression was used during the blowdown to reduce dust, and all activity followed robust safety protocols.

Councillor Michael McPake, Convener of Housing with North Lanarkshire Council, added: "Today marks the end of an era for Motherwell's skyline, but it also represents progress. We thank everyone in the local community for their support and understanding throughout the demolition. "The clear-up work will begin immediately, with approximately 20,000 tonnes of rubble and debris set to be removed, paving the way for new opportunities on this site."

Paul Turbitt, Demolition Project Manager with Thompsons of Prudhoe said: "Delivering a safe and successful blowdown of these towers required outstanding teamwork, drawing on months of careful planning, engineering studies, and close collaboration with our partners. "Coursington, Allan, and Draffen towers were in challenging locations, so it was vital we achieved a precise and controlled collapse. "To enable this controlled event, we installed 4120 charges and 135kg of explosives. I am extremely proud of our team's professionalism and thankful for the support from residents and businesses throughout this project. "It has been an honour to help bring this major effort to a safe finish and contribute to the future development of the site."

The three towers were built using the Cruden-Skarne Large Panel System and featured a rare post-tensioning system intended to improve comfort by limiting vibration and movement. Over the years they were refurbished with aluminium cladding, insulation and upgraded heating, remaining a distinctive part of Motherwell's architectural and social history.

"The council would like to thank all residents, businesses, and members of the public for their cooperation, as well as Thompsons of Prudhoe, the emergency services, and road sweepers for their roles in ensuring a safe and successful demolition" said Councillor McPake.