Rochdale Boroughwide Housing responds to further questions about demolition plans

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing logo

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) have responded to further questions following the ‘Residents respond to RBH demolition plans for College Bank and Lower Falinge.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/110951/residents-respond-to-rochdale-boroughwide-housing-demolition-plans-for-college-bank-and-lower-falinge

‘The Rochdale Masterplan’ includes plans to demolish four of the Seven Sister blocks and 15 of 25 on Lower Falinge. The remaining blocks would be refurbished.

• If residents are living in a block that will be renovated, will they have to move out whilst this is being done? If this is the case, where will they go?

Residents living in the retained blocks in Lower Falinge will be able to stay in their homes while their blocks are upgraded, and we will work closely with households to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum during these works.

We don’t have the detail of refurbishment plans at this high-level options stage but if remodelling to reduce the number of studio flats is undertaken then it is likely that the tenants in the retained towers in College Bank would need to be rehoused while such extensive remodelling is carried out. This would be phased and we would work with each individual household to provide appropriate accommodation during the renovation period.


• Will affected residents who want to stay in their relevant area be able to?
• Will they be offered a home on the new sites? If not, where will they be rehomed?
• If residents are rehomed because their blocks are being demolished, will this be a temporary or permanent measure?

Any residents who need to move as a result of demolition proposals will be offered a like-for-like home as well as the highest priority for rehousing. We will be offering individual tailored support for every resident affected and any resident who has to move will receive compensation. We hope and expect that all residents who wish to stay within the Rochdale town centre area will be able to do so, but we do not want to make a promise until we have carried out our visits to every household to better understand what they would prefer and worked with the community on further detailed plans.


• What traffic calming measures will be put into place with the new road systems?

The road layout and traffic calming measures will be part of the more detailed work that will take place with the local community over the coming months. Ensuring that there are pedestrian and cycle friendly routes and roads which have a residential not a ‘through route’ feel will be a key part of this.


• Will vulnerable residents be given the support they need and accommodation of a satisfactory standard?

Yes. All residents affected will receive tailored support from RBH and a dedicated contact throughout the process. The welfare of tenants and residents is our highest priority.


• Will Lower Falinge get a community centre?

We are looking at how we can accommodate community facilities within the redeveloped sites and we will continue to discuss this with the local community over the coming months as we develop the proposals in more detail. Lots of fantastic work takes place at the current community base and the redevelopment is an opportunity to look at how we could provide an improved space for these activities.