Homes 'not being replaced'

Ian Craig

December 05, 2007

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Thousands of homes torn down

THREE times more homes have been demolished in parts of Greater Manchester than have been built.

New figures show that while thousands of homes have been torn down as part of a £20bn government campaign far fewer new houses have replaced them.

In Manchester and Salford, around 600 new homes were provided while, in the period 2004 to this year, 2,425 were demolished. Shadow local government minister Alistair Burt, a former Bury MP, said: "These demolitions shake communities to the core and some may never recover.

"This is happening on the doorstep of (Salford MP) Hazel Blears and it is now one of Labour's biggest blunders."

According to figures for the `Pathfinders' scheme uncovered by the Conservatives, between 2004 and 2007 there were 591 new homes built and 2,425 pulled down.

Figures for Oldham and Rochdale show 271 were built and 624 demolished.

The government points out that, despite these figures, thousands of homes were repaired, improved or refurbished during the same period.

Rubble

But the Tories say that taxpayers will be left to foot the bill as rubble piles up in northern towns and cities.

Mr Burt claims the government initiative was designed to generate headlines, not regenerate communities.

"These figures show that the only thing on track are demolitions. The Community Secretary Hazel Blears should get a grip of this and apologise," said Mr Burt.

A spokesman for Ms Blears' Communities and Local Government Department said: "The housing market renewal programme will have built, refurbished and improved more than four times as many homes as have been demolished, according to our estimates for the end of the year."

In the Manchester and Salford area more than 4,300 homes were repaired or improved in 2004, more than 2,400 the following year, more than 2,300 last year and an estimated 866 this year. In Oldham and Rochdale there were 832 refurbishments in 2004, more than 1,000 the following year, 278 last year and 240 this year.

What do you think? Have your say.

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Womble, Westhoughton (05/12/2007 at 08:31)

The Conservatives have no right to condemn this situation, since it was their party who invented 'right to buy' council houses, but then refused to allow the councils to re-invest the monies in new-build homes. The Labour party is little better, because although some of their party have condemned 'right-to-buy', they've still not allowed councils to build new council houses with the profits. Now that some councils are farming out their social housing to private or 'arms length' organisations, they have absolved themselves of the resposibility.

Mr Angry, Bury (05/12/2007 at 08:59)

This is depressing but it does'nt suprise me. It is simply repeating the huge planning blunders of the early 1960's.

Why do politicians never learn??

The communities will be destroyed and the idiots responsible in the government/local authorities will get off scot free, probably with a nice big back-hander from the developers.

In this country, failure is rewarded when you reach a certain level

alvinlwh (05/12/2007 at 09:14)

And I wonder why are they telling us that there is s shortage of housing.

edwards (05/12/2007 at 10:05)

opposite us in ashton 30 perfectly serviceable and well built terraced houses have been demolished to make way for 12 new houses. Judging from those already built, the new homes are very far from acceptable, smaller and inferior in all aspects. it appears that ashton underlined (an arms length quango) has been instigated to administer this whole affair. it appears with the strict priviso that any information should be withheld from local residents wherever posssible.

ace, manchester (05/12/2007 at 11:17)

HELLO!HELLO! How many years have i have been saying this?Over the last 60 years we had millions of people working in our car and other industries in britain with large families all being housed but since the labour started demoloshing homes in the 1960s weve got rid of more homes than weve built,until now .But now were.But now were having millions of people comming into britain from all over europe and the world so now weve got a massive housing problem "THANKS TO LABOURS POLICIES"Of knock them down and sod them "Build appartments not homes.

Mark, South Manchester (05/12/2007 at 12:15)

There may be a population boom and housing shortage down South - but it seems the North is still de-populating!
Pro London New Labour Government policy - means there is a talent & skills drain to the South East. But Manchester and the North West desperately needs to attract new immigrants here, to boost our economy too! Sadly though, these hard working skilled newcomers, mostly seem to be settling in London & the South East - and the inequality in housing demand proves this.
So send 'em all up here instead - we need them!

Matthew Wright (05/12/2007 at 14:19)

A typical government policy. Places like Gorton (an example) havent even recovered from rehousing in the 70s where its population was placed all over and entire communities vanished overnight. An example of when you let politicians meddle this is the result.

edwards (05/12/2007 at 14:59)

the migrant workers from the EU are not 'boosting' our economy. They go where the work is with no intention of contributing to the local social or economic welfare. How many are paying council tax? They have their own shops run by other migrant workers which is clearly not benefitting anybody else. Now the men have been here for a good number of months we are seeing the appearance of the wives and children. We have a huge impact on our social infrastructure. One example is families coming to the UK to obtain medical treatment, mainly for their children - free of charge having not paid one cent into the pot. Another effect is the impact upon wages as clearly most are paid minimum wage which obviously has a knock on effect driving wages down elsewhere. How many are paying road tax on their vehicles? It is no wonder they all appear happy as so many are really living outside of the tax burden the rest of us have to bear. The Uk would not be such a great proposition if the true cost of living was known.

ken and sue, langworthy (05/12/2007 at 19:24)

just have a look who is sat on the pathfinder board on the board sits alan cherry chairman of countryside properties george mills of mbla architects derek nesbit of dtz venture who act for a wide range of property developers also john early who used to work for amec vice chairman of pathfinder bryce glover of alliance and leicester these do specialist mortgages for buy to let upto 3 million pounds now can you see why no social housing is being built also look what land interests these people anything near the salford quays or on the banks of the river irwell or the gateway to manchester chapel st its not a coincidence

Mr Angry, Bury (06/12/2007 at 07:39)

Ken and Sue, Langworthy, The whole scheme just reeks. It is Poulson, T Dan Smith, Reginald Maudling all over again

Wilbur Norris, Manchester (06/12/2007 at 14:58)

We need to stop the right to buy now, we need to stop puttng immigrants to the top of the housing list, and we need to stop giving benefiots to perfectly fit and able people who could stack shelves at tesco's or something if they took up the jobs they should be doing then there wouldnt be any work for immigrants therefore more homes less pressure on services everybody wins the goverment need to act fast, stop benefits get people into the low paying jobs that the immigrants are taking.

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