Losing tower blocks 'fits city's new image' WHITEFRIARS HOMES EXPLAINS PLANS THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE COVENTRY SKYLINE.
Byline: Fiona ScottLAST Friday, tenants in Hillfields learned that eight of the 12 tower blocks where they live will be demolished. The Coventry landmarks will be pulled down by Whitefriars Homes, the housing company which took over all the city council's homes nearly two years ago. Political Editor FIONA SCOTT finds out why.
ALISON HADDEN, executive director of Whitefriars Homes North, remembers clearly her first glimpse of the Hillfields tower blocks now earmarked for demolition.
"My overriding memory is of driving round the ring road, looking at those flats and thinking: 'They're horrible," she said in her West Coast Scottish accent.
"Coventry is trying to rejuvenate itself, to become a different city and we want to play our part."
On Thursday last week the board of Whitefriars - which includes city councillors - decided to knock down eight of the 12 blocks of high-rise flats in Hillfields. As always, the board meeting was in private.
The decision, made public the next day, took Socialist ward councillors, including Dave Nellist, and some tenants by surprise. It has become a high-profile example of the different way the city's social housing stock is run, now it is no longer under council control.
The game plan is to knock down eight blocks and refurbish the remaining four to a high standard. Colourful cladding will give them a better image and there is provision for rewiring, better windows, kitchens and bathrooms, more interior communal areas and more welcoming foyers.
What happens to the remaining land has not been decided. It is tantalisingly close - as Socialist councillors have pointed out - to the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital site which could be becoming vacant soon.
Other developments trans-forming the area, such as Drapers Fields housing estate north of Coventry canal, the Electric Wharf ecovillage development still to come at Sandy Lane, Radford, and the redevelopment of the council's old Central Depot in Foleshill Road are all nearby. There is the opportunity to transform the area.
Chief executive of Whitefriars Homes Howard Farrand said yesterday he could not guarantee that the new low-rise homes that Whitefriars might build to replace the flats would definitely go on the land vacated at Hillfields.
He said: "We are in the social housing business and we will seek to put in new properties for rent that are in the market place we are in.
"The exact numbers and locations we can't give you. It could well be a mixture with a shared ownership or some owner occupation."
Each block in Hillfields will cost pounds 3 million to bring up to scratch - including cladding and rewiring. Both Mr Farrand and Ms Hadden believe it would not be cost-effective to refurbish all 12 - or even necessary to accommodate those who want a high-rise lifestyle.
Many of the flats are empty, others are used as "Giro-drops" for people to claim benefits while living elsewhere, and there is a high turnover of tenants.
"In other parts of the city, 54 per cent of tenants have lived in their property for five years or more," said Ms Hadden. "In Hillfields, it is 19 per cent. Elsewhere, only nine per cent of tenants have lived in their homes for less than a year - in Hillfields it is 45 per cent."
They say tenants were consulted in January about the proposals. Whitefriars employed an outside firm to deliver questionnaires and of the 266 who replied, 137 said they wanted to stay in their own flat or another flat in the area.
On the face of it, that is a majority of those who replied wanting to stay. Ms Hadden says they could all easily be housed in the four blocks to be refurbished.
Both believe there is nothing to hide in the board decision being in private.
"To be devil's advocate, why should citizens of Coventry have any influence over tenants of Coventry, whom we have consulted, whom we have involved in the process? These are the people who are, in effect, our shareholders," said Ms Hadden.
Three years to create a fresh look in Hillfields
HOW MANY HOMES WILL BE AFFECTED?
There are 819 homes in 12 blocks in Hillfields. Four blocks - Douglas House, Hillfields House, Paul Stacy House and Pioneer House - are to be kept, with 296 flats.
Joseph Halpin House, Michel House, Pearl Hyde House, Phoenix House, Selina Dix House, Stevens House, Unity House, and Thomas King House are to be demolished.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
The demolition and refurbishment of the four blocks will take about three years, with a decision on what to do with the remaining land to be taken by the Whitefriars board some time in the next two years.
WHO WAS CONSULTED?
All the tenants of the high-rise blocks were consulted. This excludes refugees in 124 flats let to social services, who have a different form of tenancy.
At the time of consultation, 113 of the 819 flats were vacant. that left 582 flats. Of these, 145 were "infrequently used" - possibly for Giro- drops - leaving 437.
Of these, 266 replied and of them, 137 said they wanted to live in a Hillfields flat, whether in their own or another block, 47 said they wanted to move to another type of property in Hillfields, and 82 wanted to move from Hillfields.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
The flats will cost pounds 3 million to refurbish. Money was already in Whitefriars budgets for new bathrooms and kitchens, double glazing if tenants wanted it. The extra will pay for re-wiring, cladding, provision of communal social areas and better foyers. Plans will be drawn up with tenants.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
Whitefriars is hoping to hold a major "planning for real" exercise involving other people living in Hillfields, including private tenants and owner-occupiers in the area to see what could be developed in future.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PROFITS FROM LAND SALES?
Whitefriars is a not-for-profit private company so any profits will be ploughed back into providing social housing - whether in Hillfields or elsewhere in the city.
CAPTION(S):
LOOKING AHEAD: Howard Farrand and Alison Hadden say Whitefriars has a role in the city's rejuvenation. SURPRISED: Dave Nellist. COMING DOWN: Eight of the Hillfields tower blocks will be demolished in Whitefriars' plans.
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| Publication: | Coventry Evening Telegraph (England) |
|---|---|
| Date: | Jul 3, 2002 |
| Words: | 1036 |
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