Residents and leaseholders could be asked for their views on the future of 10 council-owned tower blocks across Stoke-on-Trent under plans due to go before the city council’s cabinet.
If cabinet approves the proposal, a six-week consultation will run from 21 September to 2 November 2026. No final decision has been made.
Which tower blocks are included?
The 10 blocks are Arthur Cotton Court and Port Vale Court in Burslem; Boundary Court, Brookfield Court and Forest Court in Hanley; Dibden Court, Penkhull Court and Southern Court in Stoke; and Pedley Court and Robinson Court in Blurton.
Built in the early 1970s, the blocks contain 374 homes: 315 rented properties and 59 leasehold flats.
Two options under consideration
The council approved the demolition and redevelopment of all 10 blocks in principle in January 2023. It says an independent assessment has since found that approach is no longer financially viable because of factors including construction inflation, borrowing costs and pressure on the Housing Revenue Account.
The first new option is an enhanced refurbishment of all 10 blocks. Proposed work would include roofs, windows, external walls, heating, ventilation and fire-safety measures, with the aim of extending the buildings’ useful lives by more than 25 years.
The second is a hybrid option: refurbish seven blocks and demolish Boundary Court, Brookfield Court and Forest Court in Hanley. The three sites would be retained for possible future brownfield development.
Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for Safe and Resilient Communities and Housing, said:
Our priority is to provide safe, decent and sustainable homes for our tenants, both now and for future generations, as well as continuing to increase the numbers of homes to meet the growing needs of the city’s residents.
No final decision has been made. We want to hear directly from those affected before Cabinet considers any future recommendations. I would strongly encourage residents to take part in the consultation and make their views known.
Feedback would be analysed after the consultation. A further report and full financial appraisal would then return to cabinet before any final decision. Residents and leaseholders will receive details of how to take part nearer the proposed launch date.
