Life on Rochdale’s ‘sink estate’

The flats around them are set to be bulldozed, and they are the last ones left in Rochdale’s so-called ‘sink estate’.

The flats around them are set to be bulldozed, and they are the last ones left in Rochdale’s so-called ‘sink estate’.

It’s a lonely existence for Andy Roche and his partner on the doomed Lower Falinge estate – which in 2013 was named the most deprived area in England for the fifth successive year. Out of the 24 flats in the Zedburgh block, Andy’s is the only one left occupied.

He has lived on the estate since 1988 and has no intention of going anywhere.

His presence there is the only reason Zedburgh isn’t among the six blocks set to be knocked down.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), the estate’s landlord, wants to demolish the Ollerton, Newstead, Romsey, Quinton, Ullesthorpe, and Vaynor maisonette blocks. Their plans would see them grassed over whilst they prepare the next stage of redevelopment.

Walking through the ginnels and footpaths weaving through the estate, there is an eerie atmosphere with a cold silence resonating from the empty blocks. Many of the flats haven’t been lived in for years, and you can tell.

The blocks in line to be flattened look shabby. RBH say the 1970’s buildings are no longer fit for purpose and have lived way beyond their life span.

So many tenants have upped sticks and moved on, but for Andy this estate has everything he wants.

The campaigner has been offered multiple different housing options by RBH, but none of them have lived up to what he currently has, Andy believes.

The 50-year-old said:

“The new builds change the nature of our area. I have nothing against the new flats, but the new flats are very small in comparison to the old ones.

“We were never against regeneration fully, but we didn’t trust RBH. This area is fondly looked on by some but not others.

“Like the former Prime Minister David Cameron called us a sink estate in 2016, which was a bit offensive. He meant we were the poor people that can’t go anywhere else.

“Me and my partner don’t work because we’re both autistic and find it very difficult. For us these flats are ideal, because we have ground floor access and my partner has mobility issues.

“We get to have a one-bed flat, there are no communal areas, we can access them straight away. We like the layout of these.

“We’re not against regeneration, per say, but it’s about what their plan actually is and we just don’t know.

“It’s quiet now, but it did have a community that has all gone away now. We have been split as well, the new homes are between us and the other half of the estate – so they’ve ripped us in half.”

The 13 year fight

Walking along the path where the Newstead block overlooks the communal grassland, every window is boarded up with plywood – showcasing the vandalism the area suffers. Andy points out how families can watch their children play on the grass outside from through their living room windows.

But there are no children here anymore, and no families. Andy is one of the last remaining campaigners fighting to save these blocks.

“It’s upsetting to see them empty,” the Zedburgh block resident continued. “Because I really like living here.

“With the trees it’s really nice in Spring. But the blocks have been boarded up now after the vandalism.

“There is no gang activity or violence here. I’m not saying nothing ever happens, but it felt safe here – especially when it’s full.

“Now there are 128 empty homes. Our block is next for demolition, and the only reason Zedburgh isn’t going this time is because we’re still there – we’re the last holdouts.

“I feel a constant pressure to move out, it’s taking a toll on our mental health. One of the main reasons we like it here specifically is because of the grassy areas and it’s away from the road noise.

“If there is some mythical place that is better we would’ve found it by now. Everything I want and need is here.”

He said the fight to save the blocks is not over, but there are very few people who live there still interested. Even Andy has to admit it’s difficult to muster up an opposition campaign when no-one lives in the flats primed for demolition.

He explained that some of those in the ‘Save Our Homes’ campaign group have given up, and the majority have moved on. He added that his flat, like some of the others in the 1970’s buildings not up for demolition, struggles with damp and mould issues.

Andy believes RBH don’t want to tackle those problems because they want to knock them down. In RBH’s eyes, redevelopment is the best way forward for the blocks to stop this issue.

“It makes us feel like we’re just units for them to move around,” Andy added. “They don’t care what happens to us, we’re just numbers on a spreadsheet for them.

“We’ve not lost hope completely. We feel like we have the councillors backing, as they feel the loss of social housing is terrible.

“But they need us to show them we have support.”

This area has long been earmarked for redevelopment by landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH). There have already been multiple phases of demolition on the estate, starting in 2012.

With blocks being demolished and new ones being erected, it has left a bizarre layout consisting of new-build housing sandwiched between 1970s style blocks. As you stroll under the walkway that connects the vacant Romsey and Quinton blocks, you can faintly hear the humdrum of children charging around the new playground a mere 100m away.

New homes surround the swings and slides but look out onto the boarded up Ollerton block.

The last round of demolition took place over five years ago, but now another 12 months worth of destruction is on the cards. But for the few remaining campaigners, there is still the refurbishment alternative.

What is the alternative?

The Lower Falinge estate campaigners have teamed up with the Save the Seven Sisters group, who live in the iconic tower blocks just over Spotland Road. Mark Slater, who heads up that campaign also fighting to stop potential demolition, has worked with London-based architects Unit 38 to draw up a refurbishment plan.

This masterplan would see the Seven Sisters tower blocks, actually named College Bank, refurbished and brought up to modern living standards. The designs also include the regeneration of the Lower Falinge estate – which Andy Roache points out is much cheaper to do than College Bank.

“This is the first stage of the ghost of 2016 coming back to haunt us,” Mark Slater said. “They are continuing despite the whole community being opposed to it.

“This doesn’t make common sense, it just makes financial sense. In a housing crisis, retaining housing has to be a priority.

“We feel this is a step backwards.”

Mark went on to say how this latest demolition decision is a worry for his own campaign fighting to stop the bulldozers – against the same social housing landlord. Currently there are around 22,000 people on the housing waiting list in Rochdale.

With hundreds of empty homes in both Lower Falinge and College bank estates, Mark says it’s just ‘not common sense’ to have all these units not being used when thousands are waiting.

Back on the Lower Falinge estate, Andy points out a busted up red Peugeot with a broken window and a sleeping bag in the back. He highlights the irony that homeless people are living just on the doorstep of hundreds of empty flats.

What RBH says

Hannah Fleming, RBH Head of Regeneration and Development, said:

“The planning application in Lower Falinge is not a new proposal.

“We have been talking to our customers over a number of years about our plans for the regeneration of Lower Falinge, and the current application is in line with the Lower Falinge Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which was approved by Rochdale Borough Council in autumn 2021.

“Residents have moved out of the six blocks initially proposed for demolition over the past seven years and they have been completely empty for the past 15 months. They are considered to be at the end of their life and are in a condition that would mean they cannot be occupied and would not be safe and warm homes.

“The only sustainable and affordable solution is to demolish them and build new homes that will meet the aspirations of the current and next generation of customers.

“Our aim is to replace these blocks with new homes, the design of which will be informed in consultation with the people of Rochdale to ensure they meet the needs of the current and future residents of Lower Falinge. Three phases of new, high-quality homes in Lower Falinge have already been delivered.

“This important next phase will include using land acquired in the surrounding area to complement the current site. This will deliver much needed family homes in the centre of Rochdale.

“The local community are integral to these plans and in December we consulted with our customers in the area about the types of homes and community facilities they would like to see developed in Lower Falinge. We will use this feedback and future consultation to inform what will replace the blocks that will be demolished.”