RBH reveals Seven Sisters flats could be saved with funding after teaming up with another registered housing provider

The Seven Sisters flats at College Bank could be saved from demolition, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing has revealed, following a meeting with residents on Wednesday (28 June).

The housing association says it is now looking at options to retain all seven blocks, which “would be modernised and refurbished to provide high quality energy efficient homes.”

Earlier this year, RBH paused work on its controversial plans for College Bank, which included demolishing four blocks and retaining and modernising the remaining three.

The pause came as part of RBH’s review into all its major projects after the landlord was shamed over the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died a direct result of ‘extensive’ black mould in the RBH flat he lived in.

 

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The scandal led to the sacking of chief executive Gareth Swarbrick, whose interim replacement – Yvonne Arrowsmith – was tasked with turning the beleaguered mutual around.

RBH is now working alongside a registered housing provider, Legal & General Affordable Homes, to bring in funding which RBH says it can’t access alone.

If the proposals go ahead, Legal & General Affordable Homes would be the landlord of the College Bank flats with RBH managing and maintaining them.

Any plans would be based on works being carried out to all seven blocks in a phased way, which means some residents may need to move whilst work is carried out.

This work would include:

• New windows
• Upgraded external treatment of the blocks to meet both issues of water penetration and fire safety
• A new energy-efficient heating system that should produce both savings to residents and be good for the long-term sustainability of the wider community
• Lift improvements
• New kitchens and bathrooms

RBH estimates the work will take at least a year before starting on site. This would also include further work on what modernisation and refurbishment works could look like.

A spokesperson for RBH said: “Legal & General Affordable Homes are regulated by the Regulator for Social Housing - the same as RBH is.

“They are committed to providing good quality, affordable and energy efficient homes for the future.

“We can’t access all the funding required to bring the blocks up to the required standard alone. Legal & General Affordable Homes will bring in funding and expertise to help with modernisation.

“Together we are also looking at other potential sources of funding.

“All existing RBH tenants would retain the same tenancy conditions - including rent

“All leaseholders would have the same lease, but with Legal & General Affordable Homes being the freeholder

“We don’t have all the details yet - this will be established over the coming months. “We will keep the community updated as we have more information.

Rochdale MP Sir Tony Lloyd has welcomed the news, saying: "I hope RBH will make a speedy decision which can put an end to years of uncertainty to tenants who have been fighting to stay in their own homes and to avoid, especially in the case of elderly residents, the trauma of a move.

"I also hope their decision will allow the empty flats to be reoccupied, bringing in rental income which the authors of the previous policy were prepared to lose."