‘We won’t shirk taking difficult decisions on Seven Sisters future’ insist RBH bosses
ROCHDALE Boroughwide Housing has responded to a letter signed by the majority of Rochdale councillors concerning its controversial plans to demolish the Seven Sisters tower blocks as part of redevelopment plans for College Bank and Lower Falinge.
The letter, sent by councillor Daniel Meredith, the chair of the Council’s Communities Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committees, called on RBH chief Gareth Swarbrick to reveal the numbers of social-funded and affordable homes that would be built to replace the towers.
It was suggested in the letter that if these figures could not be provided, then demolition plans, which were due to start this summer, should be “halted immediately” until a satisfactory agreement on house numbers could be reached between the council, RBH and College Bank residents.
However RBH have emphasised their commitment to working with the council to ensure quality living spaces in the borough whilst balancing the challenges of funding the aging tower blocks.
A statement said: “We have been working very closely with senior Council officers since 2016 to develop a positive way forward for College Bank and Lower Falinge. We want to ensure this town centre neighbourhood provides good quality homes that meet the needs of local people, now and in the future.
“A key part of this work has been reviewing the investment required for the seven high-rise blocks at College Bank, which are now five decades old. The latest technical cost report shows that over £90m is needed to provide the quality of homes that local people deserve. Neither the Council nor RBH have access to this level of funding.”
The statement continued: “We have consistently been open and honest about the challenges faced in central Rochdale. We will not shirk responsibility for meeting these challenges head on and taking difficult but necessary decisions, right for the long term.
“However, if Councillor Meredith and his colleagues have a realistic alternative plan to generate the £90m-plus needed to fund the works to all seven blocks at College Bank, we would be willing to facilitate the Council taking on this responsibility.”
One of the particular areas of concern raised in the letter was the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with Coun Meredith suggesting empty flats in the Seven Sisters blocks could be used to house homeless and vulnerable people in accordance with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s request.
It was reported in December that over half the residents of Mitchell Hey block, the first of the Seven Sisters towers due to be demolished had already moved out.
RBH’s statement added: “As part of the local response to the coronavirus pandemic, we have worked closely with the Council and with other local partners to provide support to those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness.
“We will continue to work together to ensure that those now in temporary accommodation are able to move into a good quality permanent home, with the right services in place to support them, as soon as possible.”
Whilst Coun Meredith’s letter raised concerns about issues of overcrowding and the long waiting list for social housing in the borough, RBH emphasised that the new homes due to replace the tower blocks will be appropriate to the community’s needs.
“The fundamental challenges faced in providing the right quality and mix of homes in central Rochdale remain especially the need to provide new family housing. Both the Council and RBH agree that high-rise flats are just not appropriate for housing families with children.”
“Despite the current challenges, this month we have progressed the next phase of new homes in Lower Falinge - with 55 high quality new houses and apartments on the way, all to be let at a genuinely affordable rent.
“The new homes we have built so far in Lower Falinge have received exceptionally positive feedback from our tenants and the wider community.”