After decade of residents unveil 'vision of estates' future

'NOW IS TIME FOR THIS PROPOSAL TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY' SAYS CAMPAIGNER

- By GEORGE LYTHGOE

Mark Slater, chair of the Save The Seven Sisters group

A DECADE-LONG wait has stirred up anxiety and frustration amongst residents from two of Rochdale's biggest housing estates - now they've taken matters into their own hands.

Despite fighting for years to stop their homes being demolished, the threat of the bulldozer still looms for the iconic Seven Sisters tower blocks.

The estate, officially named College Bank, has been a constant on Rochdale’s skyline since the 1960s.

Their neighbouring estate, Lower Falinge, has been battling the same fate in recent months.

Lower Falinge campaigners have just delayed the wrecking ball from swooping in on six blocks of flats following a successful legal challenge.

This is a similar story to the Save the Seven Sisters group (ST7S).

In 2017, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) revealed plans to demolish four of the high-rises and redevelop them.

This sparked local backlash, with local campaigners fighting to stop the plans.

Although demolition was eventually ruled out in 2023, a shocking twist in the tale came last October when RBH put 'all options back on the table'.

RBH own both College Bank and Lower Falinge sites and have an ambition to create a redevelopment plan for both estates.

This has yet to materialise - so the campaigners from both estates have joined forces to create their own vision.

With support from the Greater Manchester Tenant Union (GMTU), tenants consulted with social architects Unit 38 to create a proposal for reviving the estates which offers to alleviate aspects of the social housing crisis in Rochdale.

New imagery and designs have been released by the group.

It's simply called the Community Plan.