Stockport Council is carrying out checks to see if any of its buildings have dangerous crumbling concrete. 

New government guidance has classed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) as an immediate safety risk, given its potential to suddenly collapse.

147 schools across England have already been affected. However, the use of RAAC is not confined to schools, and checks are therefore being conducted in other public buildings. 

Housing provider Stockport Homes told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "We are undertaking initial investigations / surveys for additional assurance against some stock. 

Tenants are already being visited across Stockport, although rehoming isn't deemed necessary at this stage. 

A spokesperson for Stockport Council also told LDRS: "Investigations and further checks are currently taking place on all council-owned and operated buildings to ensure they are safe for use."

The Forum theatre in Romiley is one public building which has since closed in light of new RAAC guidance, although the presence of this concrete in the building was known about earlier. 

The nine other Greater Manchester Councils are also carrying out checks, although thus far, the issue is not believed to be widespread in publicly-owned buildings across Greater Manchester.

RAAC was developed in the 1920s; whereas sand, gravel, water and cement are the conventional ingredients in concrete, RAAC involves aluminium powder. 

This generates a chemical reaction, producing hydrogen gas which creates tiny air pockets within the cement. This made it lightweight, and installable in panels. 

In the post-war years, RAAC was used in public buildings, such as schools and courthouses.

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