Inside 'eyesore' Plymouth skyscraper as locals back plan to demolish it
Residents have given the thumbs up to £30m plans to tear down Plymouth’s enormous Marlborough House block of flats - saying it is “falling apart”, suffers from water leaks and is plagued by drug users. People living in the Devonport tower told PlymouthLive they approve of moves to raze the building and replace it with a new one.
Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) have told residents that they would have to move out and would be found somewhere else to live while the block was knocked down and replaced with sustainable, energy-efficient social homes. PCH tenants will be given £11,600 to move out and the option of moving back into the new building, with those that own their properties being offered market price plus 10%.
Michael Pickford, who has lived in the building for nearly three years, said: “It’s a disgrace and an eyesore. They should replace it - it is falling apart. I have leaks in my bathroom, it’s ludicrous, water is coming in from outside. The lift breaks down. I want to go somewhere else.”
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Jeanette Burgess has lived in Marlborough House for 14 years. She thinks the building should be replaced but said: “I want to come back. I have got all my friends around here.”
Another Marlborough House resident, who asked not to be named, said: “They should have done it (demolition) a long time ago. Half the windows don’t open. But I would like to come back. I have lived here all my life: 40 years.”
Adrian Willcocks has lived in the block since it was built in 1973 but thinks it is time to tear it down. He owns the lease of his flat and would like to come back and live in a new building.
He said: “In the landings there are people taking drugs and drinking, that’s wrong. The service charge bills have gotten tremendous. There are people that have deliberately caused damage and that goes on our bill.”
Mr Willcocks said PCH should “start afresh” with a new building. He said: “I might move out and come back and rent, I have every right to come back.”
PCH has been speaking to 250 residents in the 13-storey building, explaining the plan and how much compensation they would receive. Phil Burgoyne, PHC's head of homes and neighbourhoods, said: “At 9am (on Monday) we started knocking on doors. Residents have taken the news fairly well, but it was a shock to some of them.”
Gill Martin, PCH’s executive director for corporate services, said: “We have a team of 30 people onsite working with residents. It is important to work with them.”
Demolition of Marlborough House could start as early as 2026 with construction on a replacement beginning by 2028. Plans have to be drawn up and approved, however, and Ms Martin stressed it would only happen after public consultation.
PCH has said the building is out of date and won’t comply with new Government regulations. After carrying out surveys it was decided it was too difficult to refurbish and although Marlborough House is still safe for residents to live in, it is not possible to bring it up to the Government’s required standards.
Architects have worked on initial ideas for a replacement, and presented five to the PCH board. These were whittled down to three, one of which would replace the current 121 flats with 126 in a 12-storey tower and another would have 148 flats in a 14-storey building, bigger than Marlborough House.
But any final plan will only be submitted following consultation with residents in the flat and the wider Devonport community. If all goes smoothly the replacement building could be built by 2030.
Among the 121 one- and two-bedroom flats are 11 where people have bought their leasehold. Four of these have already agreed to sell up to PHC, and PCH staff have already begun talks with another four. The scheme is expected to cost about £30m with PCH hoping to secure grants from Homes England for the rebuild.
PCH has a website page featuring answers to some FAQs about the redevelopment of Marlborough House here. Residents who have questions can contact PCH on 0808 2306500 and they will be put through to the tenancy management team.
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