Campaigners have been given fresh hope Rochdale’s landmark ‘Seven Sisters’ flats could be spared demolition after a landlord confirmed it was reviewing all its major projects. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing - which owns the College Bank high rises - has long been planning to drop four of the tower blocks as part of its ‘masterplan’ to regenerate what it calls the ‘town centre area’.
But that was before the landlord was shamed over the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died a direct result of ‘extensive’ black mould in the RBH flat he lived in. The scandal led to the sacking of chief executive Gareth Swarbrick, whose interim replacement - Yvonne Arrowsmith - has been tasked with turning the beleaguered mutual around.
Ms Arrowsmith - who is heading up RBH’s ‘recovery plan’ - this week told councillors the organisation was prioritising its existing stock ahead of building any new homes. And she later confirmed that it was ‘currently relooking at all of our of key projects’ following an enquiry by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
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