Latest news with #rehousing
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Durham Court demolition branded 'appalling mistake'
Concerns have been raised over plans to demolish a tower block and rehouse its elderly Tyneside Council's Labour cabinet recently unanimously agreed plans to rehouse the residents of Durham Court in Hebburn and to demolish the 18-storey block dates back to 1974 and currently has 96 people living there, the majority aged over councillors from the South Tyneside Alliance Group have criticised the move, describing it as "a staggering waste of public money". Councillor Andrew Guy, a representative for the opposition group, called the move an "appalling mistake", and also raised concerns about the tower being a "substantial customer" for the Hebburn Energy heating facility cost the council £11.9m, of which £4.8m came from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), according to the Local Democracy Reporting added: "This 18-storey tower block will be flattened, in the process wiping out the main reason the £11.9m Hebburn Energy Centre was built." The opposition group and independent councillors said they requested the decision to be "called in" and referred to a scrutiny council chiefs said they had not "received a valid request for call-in" – a ruling which Guy said the group would be "formally challenging".The local authority added a valid call-in request must come no later than 12:00 on the fifth working day after publication of the minutes – which in this case falls on 2 Carter, deputy council leader, previously said it was "by no means a conclusion we have reached lightly" to demolish Durham highlighted how the building would require £12m of investment to modernise and keep at a decent standard – which would have meant "significant disruption to the tenants without any guarantees about the long-term sustainability of the block".In response to concerns around the Hebburn Energy Centre, a council spokesperson said a new children's home would be connected to the renewable energy network, which would "mitigate a proportion of the lost carbon savings".The local authority added rehousing residents and the demolition process was likely to take about three to four years to complete. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bouverie Court residents in Bristol given deadline to move
Residents of a housing development that is being demolished despite only being built in 2011 have until next April to find new living in Bouverie Court in Easton, Bristol, were told in February that the building be demolished due to major faults in its housing association that owns the block, Elim Housing, have told residents that they will start seeking possession orders for any properties that are still inhabited by the end of March 2026."The last thing we would want to do is implement those proceedings, it's more about how we can work with people and the council to find the residents suitable accommodation," said Paul Smith from Elim Housing. All residents in Bouverie Court has been added to band one of Bristol City Council's Home Choice housing allocation scheme, meaning they are top of the 21 households have already found new homes and Elim are optimistic that all will be rehomed by the deadline."We've got some properties coming up ourselves and more coming through Home Choice that will be suitable. We're hopeful that we can make a lot of progress between now and April," said Mr Smith."If someone's still there come April, we're not going to put them on the streets - we will keep working with them to find a suitable alternative." "A lot of people have lived there since the property was built and it's a real wrench for them and there's a real moral duty on us to do the right thing in terms of finding people the appropriate accommodation," Mr Smith added. The company that built Bouverie Court, ISG Pearce, has been liquidated, meaning Elim cannot recover any costs from are hoping to sell the site to another housing association to build more housing on the site. Residents had the chance to ask questions to representatives of Elim Housing and Bristol City Council at a meeting on the meeting, residents spoke of issues finding suitable housing through the council's HomeChoice service and the higher rents that are being asked for available properties:"The prices in Bristol are very high and a lot of the houses aren't what we're looking for," said Oumaime Muhammed, who has lived in a three bedroom house on Bouverie Court since 2011."As a new resident you are looking at over £1,000 [per month] minimum, but now I am paying around £600 and you can't find something like that at this time."I can't afford that and I can't downsize because of my children who are settled here.""It's heart breaking, when you feel like you have to move from your home and leave behind memories that you've built," she added.
