RBH send in bulldozers to demolish six empty Heywood homes after safety concerns and fly-tipping issues

Monday, 18 August 2025 13:18

By David Murphy

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing begins clearance of structurally unsound Claybank Street properties, with future redevelopment under consideration.

Six vacant terraced houses on Claybank Street in Heywood are set to be demolished by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing due to serious structural concerns and repeated fly-tipping at the site.

The properties, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198 and 200 Claybank Street, have remained unoccupied for a significant period. RBH confirmed the buildings had been assessed as unsafe due to poor ground conditions affecting their structural integrity.

Demolition work is expected to begin this week and will take several weeks to complete. A spokesperson for RBH said disruption will be kept to a minimum during the process.

“Due to structural issues related to poor ground conditions, these homes are no longer safe to live in,” RBH said. “Once demolition is complete, the site will be temporarily landscaped and fenced off while future use is considered.”

The area, previously the focus of local fly-tipping complaints, will be cleared and enclosed following the work. RBH has not ruled out the possibility of building new homes on the land at a later date.

The announcement has prompted a range of views from local residents, while some supported the decision on safety grounds, others questioned whether the homes could have been refurbished instead of removed.

One resident, Clare Borg, wrote: “It sounds as though it's affected the integrity of the structure of the houses and not fit to live in, so it's a valid reason. Believe me, if they were fit to live in they’d rent them out.”

However, Victoria Fisher raised concerns about housing supply, saying: “Why knock them down when we’re struggling for houses and the authority are buying private houses? Save money, underpin them and get British people who have been struggling for time to be housed.”

Lee J Mantock added: “Bit of TLC, I’m sure they could be fixed and ready for renting,” though another commenter disagreed, stating: “If even RBH aren’t comfortable letting them out, I doubt that very much.”

The demolition comes at a time when there’s growing pressure to build more homes locally. Rochdale Council recently shared plans for over 100 new properties aimed at reducing homelessness and cutting the use of temporary accommodation.

RBH hasn’t released any structural reports but says knocking the houses down is the safest and most practical option.

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