Timescale for emptying Seven Sisters tower blocks revealed

It will take more than a year to move everyone out of the iconic Seven Sisters tower blocks in Rochdale, it has been revealed.

It will take more than a year to move everyone out of the iconic Seven Sisters tower blocks in Rochdale, it has been revealed. 

In October, the sudden decision to move all tenants out of the high-rise flats shocked residents. The reason behind the decision from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) was safety issues – flagged in a recent building survey. 

Initially tenants living in the blocks, actually named College Bank, thought they would be turfed out before Christmas.

RBH has now estimated the move out process for all tenants will take around 18 months, with two tenants out of 229 already gone to new accomodation. Independent experts have been undertaking safety and structural surveys to each of the seven blocks, which will inform a decision on the future of the blocks by the end of the year.

Structural and electrical issues, problems with the water pumping system, roof damage, and the ever-increasing costs for customers to heat and light their homes were all raised in the surveys.

According to RBH, a majority of the residents have been spoken to about their options going forward and will be supported to move over the coming months, with financial support offered by the social housing landlord. Leaseholders who own their own homes will have their flats bought at market value, RBH said previously.

Hannah Fleming, RBH director of regeneration and development, said: “In October we wrote to all our customers in College Bank to let them know that they would need to start moving out of the seven blocks. This was a very difficult decision, which was wholly focused on ensuring the long-term safety of our customers. We know this is a long process which we expect to take up to 18 months.

“As of December 2, we have now spoken directly to around three-quarters of the 229 households at College Bank, and we have carried out almost 100 detailed housing needs assessments. We’re really grateful to all the customers who have spoken to our team so far, and we are continuing to speak to our customers every day, as well as holding twice-weekly drop-in sessions on site.

“Two households from College Bank have now already moved into their new homes, and five further households have had offers on new homes accepted and are set to move soon. Our first customer to move told us he was thrilled to be able to move from a bedsit in College Bank into his own flat. We were so pleased to hear about how happy he is to have a separate bedroom of his own, after 44 years in a bedsit.”

Some skeptical residents feel this move by RBH is being done to make the process of demolishing the tower blocks easier for the housing provider – a move lots of tenants are fervently against. 

In 2017, RBH revealed plans to demolish four of the high-rises and redevelop them. This sparked local backlash, with local campaigners fighting to stop the plans.

Although demolition was eventually ruled out in 2023, a twist in the tale came last October when RBH put ‘all options back on the table’.

After coming out of an ‘exclusivity agreement’ with Legal and General, which looked into a cost-effective way to refurbish Mitchell Hey, Dunkirk Rise, Tentercroft and Town Mill Brow tower blocks, the social housing operator refused to rule out razing them to the ground.

Still, RBH says no decision on the potential demolition of the tower blocks has been made.

The ‘Save the Seven Sisters’ group (ST7S) say if they are to be moved, they’ll need to be dragged out kicking and screaming.

Speaking after the decision to turf out residents back in October, Mark Slater, chair of ST7S, said: “This certainly feels like a step back. But as a campaign group we’ll do what we’ve always done, and that is regroup.

“I don’t accept that we all have to move out. It’s not a reality I am considering.

“RBH, overnight have made a decision to inform tenants that there are some safety issues. No matter how they qualify it by saying they’re not immediate, they’ve now put the fox in the hen house because people will panic.

“They try to qualify it by saying it’s not immediate but we need to clear the blocks.

“At the moment they are mounting a campaign of social vandalism. It’s demolition by the back door.

“Suggesting the blocks need to be clear ‘before they make a decision’, that would suggest the decision has already been made. With no activity on the site, demolition becomes more of a probability than it does with people living here.

“Personally I think it’s a calculated move, it’s a strategy. Ever since the original proposal there has been a desire from the organisation to demolish some or all of Seven Sisters, but we won’t let it happen.”

RBH confirmed that five tenants have refused to engage with the move out process so far.

RBH’s Hannah Fleming continued: “We continue to strengthen our team to make sure that our customers have all the support they need. We have appointed a dedicated Money Matters Team expert to help any customers who need support with the financial impact of moving. 

“We will also shortly welcome an experienced Neighbourhood Housing Officer to the team who will provide dedicated rehousing support to help our customers move.

“Meanwhile, it’s important to say that we have not yet made a decision on the long-term regeneration plans for College Bank. We continue to work on this with our partners, including the College Bank Task Force. 

“All of the options, however, would require customers to move out completely while any works take place.”