Latest news with #SouthernHousing
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Residents concerned over tower blocks redevelopment
Residents in four East Sussex tower blocks that are due to be demolished have voiced concerns over where they will be rehomed. Southern Housing plans to redevelop Four Courts in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, a 1960s social housing scheme comprising Bevin Court, Roosevelt Court, Kennedy Court and Churchill Court. Esther Eastwood, who moved in to her flat 27 years ago, described the situation as "very upsetting". A Southern Housing spokesperson said the provider remained "strongly committed" to supporting residents throughout the transition. Residents held a meeting on Saturday to discuss future plans. Ms Eastwood said she needed help each day from her daughter, who lives down the road. She said she was worried about where she would move to and "didn't understand it all". "It's devastating, I love my flat," she added. Southern Housing said nine households had already moved into permanent new homes, with residents of Bevin Court the first to be relocated. Each Bevin Court resident had a dedicated resettlement officer and every household received one-to-one visits, it added. Simon Lee is one of those who has been relocated and said he was happy with his new flat but said he had a friend who was "distraught". "I think they have massively underestimated the social impact this is having on people," he said. The redevelopment is estimated to take around 12 years, and is needed due to "the significant shortcomings of the existing blocks", according to the housing association. "Many homes lack proper accessibility, presenting real challenges for those with mobility needs," a spokesperson said. "We've carefully considered all options and believe this is a unique opportunity to create new, high-quality social homes that better serve the needs of current and future residents. "We encourage any resident with concerns or questions to get in touch with our team so we can continue to provide the support they need." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Housing tenants 'in limbo' over demolition plans Southern Housing tenants in damp and mould 'hell'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Residents concerned over tower blocks redevelopment
Residents in four East Sussex tower blocks that are due to be demolished have voiced concerns over where they will be rehomed. Southern Housing plans to redevelop Four Courts in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, a 1960s social housing scheme comprising Bevin Court, Roosevelt Court, Kennedy Court and Churchill Court. Esther Eastwood, who moved in to her flat 27 years ago, described the situation as "very upsetting". A Southern Housing spokesperson said the provider remained "strongly committed" to supporting residents throughout the transition. Residents held a meeting on Saturday to discuss future plans. Ms Eastwood said she needed help each day from her daughter, who lives down the road. She said she was worried about where she would move to and "didn't understand it all". "It's devastating, I love my flat," she added. Southern Housing said nine households had already moved into permanent new homes, with residents of Bevin Court the first to be relocated. Each Bevin Court resident had a dedicated resettlement officer and every household received one-to-one visits, it added. Simon Lee is one of those who has been relocated and said he was happy with his new flat but said he had a friend who was "distraught". "I think they have massively underestimated the social impact this is having on people," he said. The redevelopment is estimated to take around 12 years, and is needed due to "the significant shortcomings of the existing blocks", according to the housing association. "Many homes lack proper accessibility, presenting real challenges for those with mobility needs," a spokesperson said. "We've carefully considered all options and believe this is a unique opportunity to create new, high-quality social homes that better serve the needs of current and future residents. "We encourage any resident with concerns or questions to get in touch with our team so we can continue to provide the support they need." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Housing tenants 'in limbo' over demolition plans Southern Housing tenants in damp and mould 'hell'
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
St Leonard's tower blocks residents concerned over redevelopment
Residents in four East Sussex tower blocks that are due to be demolished have voiced concerns over where they will be Housing plans to redevelop Four Courts in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, a 1960s social housing scheme comprising Bevin Court, Roosevelt Court, Kennedy Court and Churchill Eastwood, who moved in to her flat 27 years ago, described the situation as "very upsetting".A Southern Housing spokesperson said the provider remained "strongly committed" to supporting residents throughout the transition. Residents held a meeting on Saturday to discuss future Eastwood said she needed help each day from her daughter, who lives down the said she was worried about where she would move to and "didn't understand it all"."It's devastating, I love my flat," she Housing said nine households had already moved into permanent new homes, with residents of Bevin Court the first to be Bevin Court resident had a dedicated resettlement officer and every household received one-to-one visits, it added. Simon Lee is one of those who has been relocated and said he was happy with his new flat but said he had a friend who was "distraught"."I think they have massively underestimated the social impact this is having on people," he redevelopment is estimated to take around 12 years, and is needed due to "the significant shortcomings of the existing blocks", according to the housing association."Many homes lack proper accessibility, presenting real challenges for those with mobility needs," a spokesperson said."We've carefully considered all options and believe this is a unique opportunity to create new, high-quality social homes that better serve the needs of current and future residents. "We encourage any resident with concerns or questions to get in touch with our team so we can continue to provide the support they need."
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
'Telling my children we can go home felt amazing'
A woman who won a battle to move into the house in which her mother was stabbed to death said it felt "amazing" telling her family the Lambourne has been describing how the support of her community forced a U-turn from a housing Housing, which owns the property, initially said Ms Lambourne, who had previously lived at the property, had no legal right to the tenancy as she was not considered to be "in housing need"."To be able to tell my children we could go home felt amazing," Ms Lambourne said. She said the decision felt like "a weight off my shoulders", adding: "I was expecting bad news to be completely honest."I didn't think it would go the way it did."She said she burst into tears when she heard the news. She said: "I've pushed and pushed for this, but with the support of the community fighting my corner it has made the difference." Rita Lambourne was killed in her home in Bexhill, East Sussex, in Lambourne had previously said she and her three children had left her mother's home because it was overcrowded, but the pair had agreed to swap her Southern Housing flat with her mother's property in a mutual exchange. Rother District Council and Southern Housing released a joint statement on Wednesday confirming they would now be allowing her to move said they took the decision given "the tragic and exceptional circumstances in this case".Ms Lambourne said: "Losing mum was the worst thing that could have happened. "This place was our last connection to her."A man is due to stand trial in August charged with Ms Lambourne's murder.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
Bexhill woman wins fight for tenancy of home where mum was killed
The daughter of a woman who was stabbed to death has won a battle to be allowed to live in the family Lambourne was killed in her home owned by Southern Housing in Bexhill, East Sussex, earlier this District Council and Southern Housing initially said her daughter, Lucie Lambourne, who had previously also lived at the property, had no legal right to claim the tenancy of her mother's home as she was not considered to be "in housing need".But after a campaign backed by friends, neighbours and councillors, the council and Southern Housing had agreed to let Ms Lambourne succeed her mother's tenancy and move into the home. 'Finally going home' "Southern Housing called me this morning to tell me - I was overwhelmed, I was crying," said Ms Lambourne."It means the world to us as a family, it's everything we've been fighting for and it's the last thing we have of my mum's."We are finally going home."Ms Lambourne previously said she and her three children had left her mother's home because it was overcrowded, but the pair had agreed to swap her Southern Housing flat with her mother's property in a mutual following her death, Southern Housing said there was nothing on record to suggest they had been considering a swap. The council and Southern Housing released a joint statement on Wednesday confirming they would now be allowing Ms Lambourne to move in."We sympathise with Lucie Lambourne and have been working hard to find a resolution to this difficult situation," they said."After taking into account the tragic and exceptional circumstances in this case, Rother District Council and Southern Housing agree it is appropriate that the home is allocated to Lucie," they said. "If Lucie accepts, her current property will be returned to Southern Housing and made available to another family on Rother District Council's housing waiting list, based on housing need, as soon as is practical." A man is due to stand trial in August charged with Ms Lambourne's murder.
