THEY were supposed to be doomed. Glasgow's skyscrapers, it was said, were a thing of the past. Damp and dismal, they had to come down. Well, apparently not all of them.

Yesterday Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), the social landlord that took over the city's crumbling housing stock, unveiled its biggest investment yet in high-rises.

The landlord is to spend GBP83m to transform 96 multistorey blocks in a massive programme of overcladding and damp-proofing. David Hastings, its director of investment and regeneration, believes it shows high-rises are here to stay.

"This major programme of works will dramatically change the face of many high-rise blocks and mini-multis in the city over the next four years, " he said. "This level of investment demonstrates to tenants living in those properties that GHA does invest in multistorey blocks and we believe many do have a long-term future."

True, GHA has signalled that it will tear down the worst of the high-rises. The first of the Red Road blocks, Glasgow's second-highest, are to go. So too are the black twin towers of Stirlingfaulds Place in Gorbals and the blocks of Ibrox flats. The fate of others hangs in the balance.

Some tenants have been unnerved by scare stories suggesting wholesale demolition. Others have watched while neighbours in low-rises got improvements and they did not. Mr Hastings said: "GHA made a promise to tenants at the time of stock transfer that we would provide warm, dry homes and the major overcladding work now getting under way will ensure that's what they get."

Work is about to begin on the programme, at a block in Curle Street, in Yoker. Next in line is in Sandyhills in the east end. Each block will take about eight months to transform. In all, 55 high-rises and 41 eightstorey blocks will be done up.

GHA is eager to point out that the work, although capable of transforming the image of buildings, is far more than cosmetic. It will also make the homes - many of which have expensive electric heaters - much, much warmer.

The makeover will include 18 high-rises in the south of the city, in areas like Gorbals, Pollokshaws, Mosspark and Cardonald; 12 Sandyhills and Springburn; and 25 in parts of the west, Townhead and Knightswood. Overcladding is also planned for 30 smaller blocks in the south side, including Cardonald, Hillpark and Pollokshields, and another 11 in Knightswood and Balmore.

Jim and Margaret Murphy are real converts to high-rise living. "We sold our Wimpey semi in Cumbernauld and moved in here when we retired, " Mrs Murphy said, looking out of her 19th-floor window in Townhead, Glasgow. "We couldn't be happier."

The couple, both 58, have lived in the tower block in Townhead for two years. Mrs Murphy inherited the flat from her mother, Mary McManus.

Now she is transforming the already comfortable home into a palace in the sky. "They're all penthouses when you live up here, " she joked, adding: "We've already got a sauna in the old boxroom." They now also plan to install a hot tub.

The Murphys are part of a new generation discovering high-level living. Retired professionals, they appreciate city centre location, the safety - it's hard to break in to a flat on the 19th storey - and the views.

"I would like to dispel the myths about high-rises, " said Mrs Murphy, a former business trainer. "Some people think we are mad when they hear we swapped a semi for a high flat. But we love it. Our neighbours are brilliant and we've made lots of friends in just two years."

Mr Murphy, who used to be an engineer, said: "We miss our friends in Cumbernauld. But I don't miss the garden. It was a lot of work. Now we have a sauna instead."

GHA is split into small tenant committees responsible for both day-to-day services and investment planning. Beth WillisNew chairs the group that campaigned to get GBP1.3m for the Yoker flats, Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association.

She said: "We believe the whole look of the property will be greatly enhanced and, to top it all off, we are currently discussing a lighting project for the top of the building to create an attractive impression during the hours of darkness."