Mitchell Hey is named as first College Bank block of flats to be demolished

Mitchell Hey has been named as the first College Bank block of flats to be demolished during Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s (RBH) regeneration of the Seven Sisters flats.

RBH visited residents on Tuesday (26 February) to provide face-to-face information and explain intentions to demolish the Mitchell Hey, Dunkirk Rise, Tentercroft, and Town Mill Brow tower blocks over the coming years.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/125595/plan-that-could-see-famous-tower-blocks-razed-set-to-take-step-forward

Mitchell Hey has been identified by RBH as being in the first phase of demolition, according to an FAQ on their own website. Residents of the blocks due to be demolished will receive at least one year's notice of demolition.

RBH should be contacting Mitchell Hey residents soon to discuss next steps, plus rehousing support.

A spokesman for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing said: “We want to stress that demolition work is not about to start, but all affected residents will shortly be formally informed that their homes are likely to be demolished within the next seven years. We have dedicated support in place to help each resident with all aspects of their move to a new home and any additional support they may need.

“We are absolutely committed to looking after our customers in what we know will be an unsettling time for them.

“We have only taken this difficult decision to ensure the long-term success of the local area, and firmly believe that our proposals for the College Bank and Lower Falinge area will provide a place that people are proud to call home for years to come.

“Alongside homes to suit people at all stages of their life, we also want to provide more green spaces for everyone to enjoy, and better connections into a revitalised Rochdale town centre.

“Since 2016, RBH has been working on detailed proposals to improve the quality and mix of homes available in the College Bank and Lower Falinge area, listening to local residents through a series of consultation events and carrying out detailed planning.

“As part of our evaluation, we have again reviewed the investment needed to maintain the College Bank tower blocks over the short, medium, and long term.

“The blocks require multi-million-pound upgrades both internally and externally, including new heating systems, new modern windows and balconies, improved and more secure entrances, safer and brighter communal landings and stairwells, improvements to internal pipework and drainage systems, and new weather proofed block exteriors. In addition, improvements are needed to the concourses, garages and block basements.

“The cost of this essential investment would be at least £10m per block. For a similar investment of £10m, we know that we could build more than 100 brand new homes that would be higher in quality, provide a better mix of size and type, and would better meet the needs of local people now and into the future. 

“We know that RBH would never be able to raise the £70m needed for investing in all seven blocks.  However, we have listened to those people in the community who have told us they do really value high rise living which is why we are looking at ways to invest £30m in the three blocks we are proposing to retain.

“Since initial discussions with the local community began, we have been told by residents that they want more certainty on what is happening and when. We have always committed to provide at least one year’s notice to any RBH tenant who needs to move home – today’s activity is intended to provide more certainty for everyone who will be affected at College Bank.”

Over the coming weeks, RBH will be issuing legal demolition notices, a legal requirement issued to homes expected to be affected by demolition in the next seven years.

The spokesman added: “The next key step will be to issue a legal notice (called an Initial Demolition Notice) to all homes we expect to be affected by demolition in the next seven years.

“We plan to issue the Initial Demolition Notices in College Bank so we wanted to provide plenty of notice that this will be happening. 

“We know we won’t have been able to catch everyone at home today, so we have posted a calling card providing information on how residents can get in touch with us, including face to face, by email and over the telephone.”