Tower block tenants fear relocation for demolition.
A tower block resident claims he thought his housing association was joking when he was handed a letter confirming the demolition of the flats he lives in.
Gentoo stated that it had decided to flatten Lambton, Londonderry, and Lumley Towers in Sunderland’s East End by 2030 to avoid “significant” repair costs and disruptions.
Jamie Lee, a resident, was taken aback by the news, while Steve Potter, another resident, said he learnt about the plans from neighbours after returning home from the hospital.
Gentoo stated that the tower blocks required structural strengthening and fire safety measures, and that it had consulted with all parties involved.
A spokesperson stated that, while the flats are currently safe to live in, each resident will be “offered an alternative Gentoo home that suits their needs.” The company also stated that it would have needed to spend £5 million on fire safety improvements.
Mr Lee, who has lived in Lumley Tower for nearly five years, said his first reaction to receiving the hand-delivered letter was “nah it can’t be” because he did not believe the flats were in poor condition. “They have some issues that need fixing, but I didn’t think it would be ‘knock them down’,” he said.
He stated that he had been dealing with a leak from the ceiling into his bathroom that had yet to be resolved, but that investment could have helped avoid the problems currently plaguing the tower blocks. “It will be sad, leaving here, because it was my first flat in Sunderland,” he told me.
Gentoo executive director Marc Edwards stated that the decision to demolish the homes was “incredibly difficult” and that the company had been speaking with those affected since November.
“We are not asking customers to move immediately, we anticipate some moves will start this year and other customers may not move until 2027 depending on their individual circumstances,” he informed me.
Mr Edwards stated that all customers were receiving “moving, financial, and wellbeing support,” as well as an alternative home.
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