Demolition work is due to start on four empty blocks of flats in Stoke-on-Trent next month.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking to redevelop the low-rise buildings, off Bucknall New Road in Hanley, as part of ongoing efforts to replace some of its most outdated accommodation.
Work is due to start on site on Monday 6 March and will last for around 20 weeks. East Midlands Demolition Ltd has been appointed as the contractor.
The buildings which are set to be demolished during the first phase of work include Dane Walk, Ringland Close, Linfield Road (evens) and Linfield Road (odds).
The four buildings – which have a total of 54 individual flats among them - are all empty.
Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and environment, said: “In 2022, we launched our Housing Strategy which outlined our plans to meet the changing needs of our residents over the next five years.
“Since then we have announced a partnership with Homes England and have made further revisions to our 30-year Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Asset Management Plan which is testament to our ability to deliver high-quality places to live.
“These buildings were originally constructed in the late 1960s and, over the years, they have fallen into disrepair and subsequently neglected. The time has now come for us to work proactively to prepare the site for redevelopment and ensure it is ready for future use.
“We have consulted with residents about our proposals for Bucknall New Road and have worked extremely hard to find alternative accommodation for those affected.
“Going forward, I would like to reassure residents who remain living on site, or in the vicinity, that the demolition work will be carried out courteously and will be closely monitored to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.”
Residents are invited to learn more about the demolition work at a drop-in session on Friday 17 February at 12pm at Lindop Court Community Room, in Linfield Road, where officers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council and representatives from East Midlands Demolition will be on hand to answer any questions.
The contractor will also host weekly drop-in sessions throughout the period of the works for residents to raise any issues. These meetings will take place every Wednesday between 2pm and 3pm at the Lindop Court Community Room.
Negotiations are still ongoing with a handful of other residents who remain living in the four other buildings (St Anne Walk, Ashmore Walk, Bucknall New road (evens) and Bucknall New Road (odds)) which are earmarked for demolition during phase two.
Once demolition is complete, Stoke-on-Trent City Council will explore options for the redevelopment of the site and residents will be consulted on any proposals for its future use.
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