Future of the Seven Sisters tower blocks up in the air

‘All options’ are being explored as Rochdale’s ‘Seven Sister’s tower blocks face an uncertain future once again.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has issued a new statement after an ‘exclusivity agreement’ with Legal & General Affordable Homes (LGAH) came to an end this week.

It had been hoped the legal partnership, drawn up around 16 months ago, would find a financially viable solution for bringing all 700 homes in the seven blocks back into use.

More than a year on, according to an RBH spokesperson, ‘there wasn’t a level of risk both parties were happy with’, which means that the future of the tower blocks is entirely in the hands of social housing provider.

RBH confirmed it cannot rule out the demolition of the town centre landmark, officially known as College Bank, and is now pressing on with structural surveys, demand analysis, ground investigations and financial modelling that will inform the next steps of the process.

At the same time, improvements wil take place to the blocks and their outside space.

Amanda Newton, RBH chief executive, said: “Our customers are the reason we are here. We are absolutely committed to ensuring all the 28,000 people who live in our homes have safe, warm and affordable places to live, now and for the future. 

“This means it’s critical we make sound financial decisions and spend every penny of our customers’ rent money wisely, with their best interests at heart.

“Unfortunately, we have not been able to reach a commercially viable agreement that both RBH and LGAH were comfortable with from a risk perspective. This means that the exclusivity agreement has now come to an end, and RBH will be looking to explore options independently.   

“We know this will be disappointing for our customers living in College Bank, but the work completed in the past months has taken us forward and will not be lost.  

“Considering options independently will take a number of months, and whilst we know this brings further uncertainty, we will continue to engage with residents throughout.”

Last year, Rochdale’s town hall bosses declared a housing emergency. At the time, almost 10,000 households were on the waiting list for social housing across the borough. 

It’s understood around two thirds of the flats at Seven Sisters are currently unoccupied. The housing provider has vowed to move quickly in order to get the occupied apartments up to scratch and then find a solution that can get the empty ones filled.

Ms Newton added: “The people who live in our homes are the reason why we’re here. We will keep talking to our customers all the way, as these works progress, so they can help us create quality and affordable homes that are fit for families now and for generations to come.”

All residents of College Bank have been invited to in-person drop-in sessions taking place on Monday 28 October and on Tuesday 5 November, where they can find out more.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter