IT'S been one year since concerns about reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) hit home in Cumbria, leading to the delayed opening of a school and the abrupt closure of Carlisle's Sands Centre auditorium. 

As RAAC made headlines, it caused the sudden closure of over 100 schools and colleges across the UK, due to fears that the concrete could suddenly collapse.

This type of lightweight concrete, widely used in the UK from the 1950s to the 1990s with an expected lifespan of 30 years, came under scrutiny after the government revised its safety guidelines on its usage. 

By February 2024, the UK government had identified 234 schools and colleges across England that were built using RAAC.

In Cumbria, Cockermouth School was among those initially listed, forcing term time to be pushed back by a day after surveys found RAAC had been used in some corridors, the library and the sports hall. The issue has since been addressed. 

According to Westmorland and Furness Council, no schools in the district contained the collapse-prone form of concrete. 

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Carlisle's Sands Centre Auditorium is still recovering from the impact after RAAC was discovered on the building's roof in 2019. 

The change in legislation prompted Cumberland Council to close the auditorium shortly before the commencement of a week-long run of Shrek the Musical, leading to a continued cancellation of shows including the venue's Christmas pantomime run. 

Announced last week, however, the preparatory work to replace the Sands Centre’s RAAC roof, following a £2.5m investment, will commence this month. 

The work will be carried out by Carlisle-based contractor Cubby Construction Ltd, with additional internal upgrades also on the horizon, including a full replacement of the customer seating and enhancements to their back-of-house facilities.

The Sands Centre is projected to reopen its doors in Spring 2025. 

As of February this year, there are 54 hospital sites with confirmed RAAC. 

Last year, North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) trust, in charge of North Cumbria’s hospitals, assured that their facilities do not contain any RAAC.

Beyond public buildings, RAAC's presence extends to residential properties too.

According to a recent report from Sky News, over 2,000 homes labelled as at risk of collapse could potentially face demolition, with the majority of these buildings found in Scotland.