Residents of an Edinburgh street remain displaced almost three years after a devastating gas explosion destroyed two homes and forced the evacuation of neighbouring properties on 1 December 2023.
The blast on Baberton Mains Avenue claimed the life of James Smith, 84, and sent two others to hospital. Gary Taylor, who lived several houses away, escaped injury but has been unable to return to his property since the incident.
Taylor has expressed frustration with how evacuated residents have been handled throughout the prolonged recovery process.
I cannot for the life of me understand why it has taken this long and we've not had an explanation from anyone. Most of us are retired and it's no fun being out of your home at this stage in your life.
He believes the community has received inadequate support and empathy from authorities and other parties involved in the rebuilding effort.
What caused the explosion?
The Health and Safety Executive determined that the explosion resulted from a fault within the property's internal gas installation rather than a problem with the gas supply network itself. According to the HSE's investigation findings, the internal installation was the source of the incident.
How extensive was the damage?
The explosion destroyed two houses outright, with six properties in total requiring demolition and reconstruction. Taylor's own home sustained significant structural damage, with patio doors blown from their frames and ceiling splits caused by the force of the blast.
Following the explosion, Taylor and his wife Norma initially stayed with friends before being moved into temporary bed and breakfast accommodation, where they have remained throughout the rebuilding process.
When will residents return home?
Residents have faced repeated delays in their return dates. Taylor indicated that the expected move-back date has shifted from late September to late October, with concerns that further postponements could extend into November.
Planning permission for reconstruction work has progressed in recent months. According to Edinburgh Council's planning records, permission for a replacement semi-detached house at 37 Baberton Mains Avenue was granted on 8 July 2026, with permission for 35 Baberton Mains Avenue following on 27 August 2026.
Taylor expressed optimism about the prospect of returning to his own home, saying:
Getting back to our own home, that nobody can take away from us. We're going to sit with a bottle of wine and have a good greet.
What are residents' concerns about the process?
Taylor has criticised the coordination between the council and insurance companies during negotiations over liability and rebuilding costs. He felt sidelined during these discussions and believes the process lacked human consideration.
They forgot the human aspect. The council and loss adjusters should have had more cooperation. They never worked well together. I would ask them to have a look in the mirror and think 'could we have done better here?'.
Taylor has called for a more streamlined system to be implemented for future incidents of this nature, emphasising the need for better collaboration between local authorities and insurance representatives.
What has the council said?
Councillor Joan Griffiths, planning convenor of City of Edinburgh Council, stated that the authority has maintained close engagement with residents and provided ongoing support throughout the recovery period.
These are private properties and, once the council's role to ensure public safety was complete, we handed the site over to the residents and their insurance companies who took the lead in providing temporary accommodation and engaging with owners over future settlement or rebuilding properties.
Griffiths emphasised that once the council's public safety responsibilities were fulfilled, responsibility for temporary housing and rebuilding negotiations transferred to residents and their insurance providers.
Key Facts
- The explosion occurred on 1 December 2023 on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh, killing James Smith, 84
- Two houses were destroyed and six properties in total required demolition and reconstruction
- Residents including Gary Taylor and his wife Norma have been in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation for nearly three years
- The Health and Safety Executive attributed the blast to an internal property gas installation fault
- Planning permissions for rebuilt properties have been granted in July and August 2026, with residents hoping to return in the coming weeks
