Demolition drama in Rochdale as council blocks RBH plan to bulldoze six housing blocks at last minute

Controversial plans to demolish six empty blocks of flats on a housing estate in Rochdale were stalled last month – now they’ve been thrown out entirely.

Controversial plans to demolish six empty blocks of flats on a housing estate in Rochdale were stalled last month – now they’ve been thrown out entirely.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) wants to regenerate the Lower Falinge estate and has determined bulldozing the blocks is the only affordable option. The maisonette blocks earmarked for the wrecking ball include Ollerton, Newstead, Romsey, Quinton, Ullesthorpe, and Vaynor – containing 126 homes in total.

Despite getting prior notification approval for demolition earlier this year, a legal challenge from local campaigners saw demolition grind to a halt.

This legal success for the ‘Save Lower Falinge’ meant Rochdale council had to reassess RBH’s planning application.

Planning officers at the council have since determined that prior approval is needed and refused the prior notification application. RBH will have to submit a more detailed demolition plan to the local authority if they want to push forward with bulldozing the site.

A prior approval application will allow the council to assess environmental impacts, demolition methods, and post-demolition site restoration plans. 

The Lower Falinge housing estate – which has been undergoing redevelopment for years – was named the most deprived area in England for the fifth successive year back in 2013.

Campaigners, who launched the legal challenge, explained how the demolition next to their homes would be a huge disruption to their lives, impact on their human rights and how it failed to properly consider environmental impact assessments.

The lawyers representing the campaigners, Cornerstone Barristers, described RBH’s actions as ‘salami slicing’ – where developers split up a project amongst separate planning applications which, on their own, do not constitute a major development. 

Explaining why Rochdale Borough Council conceded the challenge, a council spokesperson said previously: “Following our approval of an application to demolish six blocks at Lower Falinge, solicitors acting on behalf of residents challenged this decision on a number of grounds.

“The council has conceded on one of these grounds; that we stated that no environmental impact assessment (EIA) was required but did not record the reasons for this assertion.

“The applicant does not have to resubmit the application; the process of determining the application will now take place again. We have 28 days to issue this decision and the decision will be published on the council’s website.”

The vacant Lower Falinge blocks have slowly been emptied since 2017. RBH have made no plans for the next stage of redevelopment publicly, with a proposal to grass over the land once demolition is completed.

It is currently unknown whether RBH will submit a further planning application for the demolition of the blocks.

Speaking after the successful legal challenge last month, Hannah Fleming, RBH director of regeneration and development, said: “We’re committed to our long-running plans to create much needed high quality family homes and a brighter, greener Lower Falinge.

“We are pleased that the demolition of the nearby commercial sites is nearing completion.

“The flats earmarked for demolition 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.

“We’re confident that our current application complies with all the relevant planning guidance, including the Lower Falinge supplementary planning document.

“We hope our application can be approved quickly so that we can move forward with our plans.” 

RBH has been contacted for comment on the demolition plans being refused.