I’m last man standing on England’s ‘most deprived’ estate – they’re bulldozing flats around me but I REFUSE to budge
A RESIDENT on England’s “most deprived” estate said he has no intention of going anywhere as flats are demolished around him.
Andy Roche and his partner have lived on the Lower Falinge estate in Rochdale, Manchester since 1988 and are now the only one of 24 flats left in their block.
In 2013, the estate was named the most deprived area in England for the fifth year in a row.
In a bid to renovate the area, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), the estate’s landlord, has announced plans to demolish several of the area’s blocks.
These include the Ollerton, Newstead, Romsey, Quinton, Ullesthorpe, and Vaynor maisonette blocks.
The company claims the 1970s buildings are no longer fit for purpose and many of the flats have sat unused and dilapidated for some time.
Its regeneration plans include refurbishing apartments so they are “brought up to modern living standards”.
But whilst many of the tenants have moved out of the estate to comply with the landlord’s demands, for Andy these concrete walls have “everything he wants” and he is not ready to leave.
Fighting to save the Lower Falinge estate blocks, the 50-year-old campaigner said the new flats “are very small in comparison to the old ones”.
RBH have offered him and his partner options to move away but Andy insists his current flat is “ideal” – in particular, thanks to its spot on the ground floor which is essential for his partner who has mobility issues.
Despite his determination to stay put, he admits the area has suffered as a result of people leaving.
Historically, he said he would see children playing in the grass below his window, but now he overlooks boarded-up windows covered in graffiti.
As one of the last remaining residents in the block, he said he’s felt the pressure to move out, which has taken a toll on his mental health.
He told Manchester Evening News: “The 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.”
There are currently 128 empty homes on the estate and Andy’s block is next on the list for demolition.
But the campaigner won’t give up without a fight and insists he has “not lost hope completely”.
However, the area has long been earmarked for redevelopment, and another 12 months of demolition is planned.
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 for several 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.”