Powers to force homeowners in Collyhurst to sell up so their properties can be knocked down have been approved by Manchester council as a 'contingency'.
A compulsory purchase order (CPO) could be used if negotiations with the owners of six privately-owned former council homes and a shop fall through. Residents are set to be rehoused at the Collyhurst Village development to the west of the estate where 244 new homes are currently under construction.
Councillors have dismissed claims that there is 'disquiet' in the area about the move, insisting that residents have been offered options they are happy with. The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that some agreements have been reached already, but negotiations are ongoing with some owners.
Labour councillor Gavin White, who is the executive member for housing and employment at Manchester council, explained that using CPOs is a last resort. He said: "Obviously, we want to reach agreement without having to use this process and we're already in ongoing discussions with everybody who lives in those homes and the one business.
"All of those people will be offered a new home across the road in Collyhurst Village. They only have to do one move. Their new home will be built there and created for them before they have to move out of their existing home."
The plans are part of the Victoria North project which will see 15,000 homes built over the next 20 years and existing green spaces by the river 'revitalised'. A total of 274 properties are planned in Collyhurst together with a new park.
Tenants of the 24 council homes in the Thornton Street North area, together with residents of the six privately-owned properties and the local shop, are expected to be rehoused at the neighbouring Collyhurst Village scheme. This development will feature 244 homes of which 24 will be houses and 76 will be apartments run by the council, with the remaining 144 sold privately.
Lib Dem councillor John Leech questioned whether residents will be offered a like-for-like replacement at an executive meeting on Wednesday (March 16). Harpurhey councillor Pat Karney dismissed claims that there is 'disquiet' among residents living on the estate which is in the ward he represents.
He said: "We had a cast iron guarantee before we embarked on this with Sir Richard Leese that anybody who is uprooted in any way from these properties would have a choice of another property in Collyhurst. I think that's fair and that's popular with residents."
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Manchester council leader Bev Craig, who took over from Sir Richard in December, said residents have been offered choices they are happy with.
She said: "Doing regeneration properly, involves people having choices and people being happy with the choices that they've been given. The extensive work that's happened with communities over the last number of years has given both choices and options people are happy with."
The executive agreed to authorised the legal process to use CPOs.
