Work has started to remove potentially dangerous cladding form tower blocks at Glasgow Harbour.

Six blocks, including the two tallest on the riverside, are to have the ACM (aluminium composite material) cladding removed and replaced with non combustible solid aluminium cladding.

The ACM was the type of cladding that was on Grenfell tower in London where 71 people died in the blaze in 2017.

Taylor Wimpey is carrying out the works which will affect 321 apartments with more than 13,000 square metres of cladding being replaced.

The Glasgow Evening Times reported in October 2017 how residents at the flats were told they had the cladding after councils were instructed by the Scottish Government to to identify domestic properties above 18metres which feature Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) as part of their construction.

The following February it was revealed residents faced a £10m bill to replace the cladding or £30,000 per owner in the affected properties.

Taylor Wimpey said a the time “the build was designed and completed in compliance with Technical Standards”.

Interim safety measures, including round the clock fire wardens were put on site following the discovery it was ACM cladding.

Taylor Wimpey said that Glasgow City Council was satisfied with the interim measures and said that there will be no “direct cost to owners or residents for the works.

Now the panels will be replaced over the next three years.

Blocks B and E the two largest have the most ACM cladding while other blocks have it on corners and around the top of the building.

Mast climbers on the tall towers and Bronto skylifts on the others will be used to take workers up and down the buildings to remove and replace the cladding panels.

A Taylor Wimpey spokeswoman said: “Following submission of our COVID-19 working protocols to the Scottish Government and its subsequent support of our approach, we are pleased to confirm that on-site preparations for the ACM cladding replacement works at Glasgow Harbour began on 8 June 2020, with the Scottish Government’s support.

“The ACM cladding will be replaced with non-combustible solid aluminium cladding, and the work will be carried out in accordance with current Scottish Building Regulations.

“We have confirmed there will be no direct cost to owners or residents, and we are liaising with the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, the owner’s association (PAGH), and the Factor (Hacking and Paterson) in order to update owners and residents regularly with our progress.

“Health and safety remains our number one priority and along with our consultants and Main Contractor, we remain fully committed to progressing and completing the cladding replacement works at Glasgow Harbour.”