Andy Roche, 51, is the last remaining occupant of the Zedburgh apartment block, one of seven 1960s-era buildings at the Lower Falinge estate slated for demolition. Six of the seven blocks are already deserted, leaving Roche's one-bedroom flat as the sole inhabited residence among 126 properties targeted for demolition by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing plans to flatten the existing structures to build up to 270 new homes. However, Roche, who has lived on the estate for 28 years, has refused to relocate. He stated that leaving is a matter of "life and death" due to his and his partner's autism, requiring specific housing conditions that he believes RBH is not adequately addressing. He has provided the housing association with a list of their needs, which he feels have been ignored, citing suggested alternative properties near a pub and a metalworks as unsuitable.
Roche cherishes the estate for its green space, low traffic, and familiarity. He pays £95 per week for his flat. The surrounding deserted walkways and plywood-covered windows have created an "eerie" atmosphere, leading to feelings of isolation and concerns about potential break-ins and drug activity. The lack of heating in neighboring empty flats also makes his own home colder and more expensive to heat.
"When I hear someone outside, I think 'have they come with machines to knock us down?'" Roche said. "When I hear the letterbox, my heart sinks because I think there's going to be a letter saying that they're taking us to court." The prolonged process has been deeply distressing for him.
The current demolition proposals follow a challenge by residents less than a year ago against an earlier plan to demolish six blocks, which was won through a judicial review. RBH asserts that the seven identified blocks are at the end of their lifespan and can no longer provide safe, warm housing. Roche, however, questions why other blocks from the same era have been refurbished instead of demolished.
Regeneration efforts at Lower Falinge began in 2012, with three completed phases resulting in 100 new homes, creating a stark contrast between modern housing and the boarded-up blocks awaiting demolition. In 2016, then-Prime Minister David Cameron referred to the estate as a "sink estate."
RBH has secured £55 million in new bank funding for investment in existing homes and regeneration projects, though a specific price for this phase has not been released. The plans also include enhancements to public spaces and improved pedestrian and cycling routes to the town center.
Meanwhile, other blocks on the estate not slated for demolition remain occupied. Gemma Lucas, 32, who has been in temporary accommodation for three years while awaiting a permanent council house, questioned the use of empty, demolition-bound blocks when there is a housing crisis. "We're in a housing crisis - but those blocks are just sitting there empty waiting to get knocked down. Why can't people move into them?" she asked.
RBH plans to submit an outline application for the demolition and redevelopment to Rochdale Council. A spokesman for RBH stated that the organization understands the difficult situation and is committed to working with Roche and his representatives to find suitable alternative accommodation, noting that five offers have been made since June 2025. The spokesman emphasized that the seven blocks are beyond repair and cannot provide the necessary living conditions for residents.
