Protest as residents 'in limbo' over home demolition

Resident of an inner city neighbourhood have held a protest against council plans to knock down their homes, saying "broken promises" have led to "lots of sleepless nights".

Work is already under way to demolish properties and build thousands of new homes in Collyhurst, close to Manchester city centre, under the first phase of a council-backed scheme.

Gaynor Hutton, who lives in the area, said residents whose homes could be demolished in the next phase were "living in limbo" as they waited to find out what would happen.

Councillor Gavin White of Manchester City Council said "no definitive decisions" had been made and added that any resident whose home needed to be demolished would be offered a new one.

About 40 residents lined a street in the area, holding up banners calling for their homes to be saved and chanting: "Hands off Collyhurst."

The neighbourhood, which is fewer than two miles away from Manchester city centre, used to be filled with 19th Century factories and other industrial buildings.

The 700 homes on the terraced streets which remain from that period are the subject of a long-term regeneration plan for the area by Manchester City Council, along with private developer Far East Consortium (FEC).

Some homes on Rochdale Road and Thornton Street have been demolished in the first phase of Collyhurst Village, which will see 274 new homes, including 130 council properties, built along with a new public park.

The local authority estimates up to 3,000 homes could be built if the project progresses.

Some council tenants have been moved into the new properties, but many fear they have not been given what was promised, Ms Hutton, who is disabled, told BBC Radio Manchester.

She lives in a property specially fitted to assist her, and said the lack of clarity over whether her home was one of those that would be demolished has put her under stress.

"I've had sleepless nights not knowing. It's your home and your life and I just feel lost," she said.

It comes as the council continued to "masterplan" the next stage of the scheme, meaning the details of what is to come next has not been decided.

Mr White, who is executive member for housing and development, said: "We aren't rushing these plans and want to get this right in collaboration with local people.

"No definitive decisions have yet been made about the future of the neighbourhood."

Council tenants Coral and Darren McKeown have been told they will be moved to a new home under the scheme.

"I didn't want to move out", Ms McKeown said.

While her husband said promises made to the couple about the flat they were moving to had not happened, such as toilets being on a separate floor.

Mr White said he wanted to "be clear" to residents that the council would not ask any of them to move out of the area.

"We want to see the Collyhurst community thrive," he said.

"If a property does need to be demolished, those residents will be offered a new home in Collyhurst - in a single move - to suit their needs.

"And we are also reviewing necessary investment in existing homes to improve those at the same time."

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