Work Begins on Demolition of High-Rise Flats in Kidderminster
Plans to demolish three high-rise flats in Kidderminster are underway, with residents already relocated and demolition expected to start soon
Kidderminster, Community Housing, Demolition, High-Rise Flats, Residents
Kidderminster: So, the deal is that the flats at Coniston House, Windermere House, and Derwent House are getting the axe. Residents have already been moved out over the past few years because Community Housing decided it was time for a change.
They figured it just wasn’t worth trying to fix up these old buildings from the 1960s. They held some drop-in sessions at St George’s Church Annexe to chat about the demolition plans with DSM Demolition.
These guys are planning to take the buildings down bit by bit, starting from the top. Stephen Young, the health and safety manager at DSM, mentioned they’re already on-site doing some prep work.
He said they need to get the first two blocks down in about 60 weeks. They want to keep everyone in the loop, which is nice of them.
One resident, who didn’t want to share her name, said she was glad to have moved from Coniston House, along with her sister from Windermere House. She mentioned she was happy with the relocation and felt relieved to be out of the high-rise.
She lived there for a good seven years and noted that the flats were getting harder to maintain. Sure, it’ll change the skyline a bit, but people will adjust.
Another local, Paul Edwards, who lives nearby, said he felt good about what he heard at the session. He was told to reach out if there were any issues, but it sounds like it’ll just be some dust and noise.
Councillor Mary Rayner, who’s been around for a while, mentioned that many folks have complained about the flats. She’s hopeful this change will brighten up the area and provide better living options that meet modern standards.
The whole plan was first announced last summer, and many residents were pretty happy about it. One resident, Libby Jones, who lived there for nearly ten years, pointed out the serious damp issues that weren’t great for people with health problems.
Others called the flats an “eyesore” and were surprised it took this long to make a move. Avril Knight even said, “About time! I’m shocked they lasted this long.”