Angus Council has approved demolishing 145 homes and flats damaged by Storm Babet nearly three years ago, with concurrent upgrades to river flood defences costing £8.2 million. The storm struck Brechin in October 2023 with winds reaching 110mph and rainfall equivalent to six months' normal precipitation in just 36 hours, killing at least seven people and affecting over 400 households, with the decision intended to provide closure for residents.

The demolition includes 29 privately owned properties and five garages, with the council pledging that no residents will be made homeless and offering housing support for all affected individuals. The project is part of Scotland's wider flood resilience strategy, with the Scottish Government announcing a £5 million Community Resilience Fund and implementing 65 actions over four years to reduce flood risks across the country, reflecting growing concerns about increasingly frequent extreme weather events.