Legal demolition notices issued in Lower Falinge

More residents in Lower Falinge have been issued legal demolition notices by housing provider, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.

Initially put forward in June 2017, controversial proposals could see several blocks demolished at Lower Falinge, as part of a 20-year regeneration plan. Both Lower Falinge and College Bank are being looked at for demolition.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/110864/rbh-proposes-demolishing-four-of-the-seven-sisters-tower-blocks-at-college-bank

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 notices are a legal requirement issued to homes which are expected to be affected by demolition in the next seven years and follow on from the first ones distributed in April this year:

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/117825/lower-falinge-residents-facing-legal-demolition-notices

A spokesman for RBH said: “In summer 2017, RBH set out proposals for the College Bank and Lower Falinge neighbourhoods which identified some homes which would be affected by demolition. We promised the community that any RBH tenant who needed to move would have at least a year’s notice of this.

“In early April 2018, we explained that one of the next steps in taking forward these proposals would be to issue a legal notice called an Initial Demolition Notice to homes expected to be affected by demolition in the next seven years.

“As we explained in April, this does not mean that demolition is about to start.

It lets residents know, formally, that their home could be demolished within the next seven years as part of the proposals.

“On Thursday 5 April, we knocked on the doors of all affected residents to let them know about this face-to-face, provide a copy of our information sheet about the notices and what they mean, answer questions and provide support before any formal legal notice is issued.

“We can confirm on Monday 23 July we issued Initial Demolition Notices to residents in 16 blocks in Lower Falinge. Along with the formal notice, we have included an explanatory covering letter, and an information sheet with further explanation, together with details of how to get in touch with RBH for support or advice.

“We will continue to support residents affected by the proposals, including providing support for rehousing, and we continue to work on the detail of the proposals. We will be submitting a planning application for the next phase of development at Lower Falinge in the near future.”

The first blocks identified at Lower Falinge for the next phase are Melrose, Lindisfarne, Ibsley, Johnston, Quinton,and Kirkstall. Thetford, Stavordale, Pershore, Glastonbury, Dunstable, Atherstone, Hinton, Edington and Bromfield have been identified as remaining.

Currently, there are approximately 450 properties on the site, with the plans affecting around half of these. However, up to 560 new homes of different types and sizes could be built in an ‘improved network of streets, public realm and landscaped spaces’ with ‘integrated landscape and play’.The proposals also include improvements to play areas, better parking for residents and improvements in the retained flats, including new windows and doors.

RBH has guaranteed residents who want to stay in the town centre will be able to do so, should the highly-controversial plans go ahead.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112547/rbh-guarantees-town-centre-homes-for-residents-at-college-bank-and-lower-falinge-if-flats-are-demolished