TENANTS WELCOME PROPOSAL TO KNOCK DOWN 10 TOWER BLOCKS
‘Consensus’ to build new homes in place
RESIDENTS of 10 tower blocks earmarked for demolition are ‘generally’ in favour of replacing them with new homes, responses to a consultation suggest.
Stoke-on-trent City Council this year unveiled plans to knock down some or all of the 10 high-rises in Burslem, Hanley, Stoke and Blurton, with officials saying the buildings suffer from a range of issues such as water ingress.
A public consultation has indicated there is a ‘general consensus’ among residents in favour of demolishing the blocks and replacing them with new homes.
But those who responded also told the council they wanted the programme to be completed more quickly than the 15 to 20-year timescale proposed.
The affected blocks are: Arthur Cotton Court and Port Vale Court, in Burslem; Boundary Court, Brookfield Court and Forest Court in Hanley; Dibden Court, Penkhull Court and Southern Court, in Stoke; and Pedley and Robinson Court in Blurton.
Three options are being considered.
These are:
■ Redeveloping all the blocks and replacing them with a smaller number of homes (option A);
■ Redeveloping all the blocks and acquiring an additional site to replace the same number of homes (option B);
■ Refurbishing the six blocks at Hanley and Stoke and redeveloping the four blocks in Burslem and Blurton (option C).
A total of 70 people completed consultation questionnaires, including 44 council tenants in the tower blocks and 11 leaseholders.
Just under three-quarters agreed with the council’s assessment of the condition of the blocks, with 50% agreeing option A would address these issues and 63% saying option B would. But only 34% agreed with option C – partial demolition – with 43% disagreeing.
Consultees were also asked to rank the three options. Thirty-six per cent said option A was their favourite, 34% favoured option B, while 24% cited option C.
Only around a third of respondents agreed with the 15-20 year timescale proposed, with 76% disagreeing. All comments given suggested that the programme should be accelerated.
The report states: “Of the options presented, there is a general consensus in favour of demolishing the blocks and replacing them with new homes. Option A, which advocates replacement of new homes on the existing four sites, is the
favoured option for tenants, equal favourite for leaseholders and favourite option for all consultees.”
Members of the housing, development and growth overview and scrutiny committee will discuss the feedback tomorrow. A report on the next steps is expected to go to cabinet early next year.