Remaining residents at a run-down Leeds estate will likely have to leave as the council suggests it will probably be demolished.
There aren't many residents left living in Kingsdale Court in Seacroft. Leeds City Council has already managed to buy 56 out of 88 flats on the rotting estate and 23 are in the process of being bought.
If negotiations stall with the owners of the remaining nine flats, the council could use special powers to force takeovers of them. When LeedsLive visited Kingsdale Court where it stands off Boggart Hill Road, the estate was mostly quiet.
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Most of the already sold flats have been completely boarded up with metal sheets over the window panes. Even in blocks still in use, several windows were covered over.
A pile of rubbish lay behind one of the blocks, and one of the concrete areas was littered with broken glass. The estate has struggled after years of anti-social behaviour including vandalism and fly-tipping.
The few residents that were about said they either weren't aware of what was happening, or weren't keen to talk about it. The council said tenants that have been moved out so far have been rehoused.
The council is buying up the flats with the intention of regenerating the area - but they need to own all of them to do that. The flats could potentially be forced into public ownership by using compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).
Martin Garrington, director of city development for the council, told a meeting: "Given the nature of the properties and the significant state of repair (needed), while we’ve not come forward with a definitive proposition at this point in time, I think our preferred approach would be based around demolition and newbuilds.”
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “The council is determined to do everything it can to tackle inequality and boost housing standards throughout Leeds. As part of this work, we have identified Boggart Hill as one of a number of priority neighbourhoods where regeneration investment and resources will help reduce deprivation and build stronger, more cohesive communities.
“Kingsdale Court has long-standing issues with crime and anti-social behaviour which, if allowed to continue unchecked, would act as a blight on our efforts to improve the wider Boggart Hill area. Complex ownership and management arrangements at the site have played a major contributory role in its problems and the council therefore recently began the process of acquiring all 88 flats there.
“Significant success has been achieved to date, with 56 flats having already been acquired and a further 23 acquisitions currently with solicitors for completion. Flats have been acquired on vacant possession terms, with affected tenants being given assistance with rehousing that is tailored to their own individual needs.
“A number of options are being considered for the long-term future of Kingsdale Court, on the basis that the council eventually takes ownership of all 88 flats. These options include the comprehensive redevelopment of the site, which would see its current difficult-to-manage layout – with flats split across eight blocks, all dating from the 1960s or 1970s and in a poor state of repair – being replaced by good-quality affordable housing.
“Active and positive progress is being made by the council in negotiations to acquire the final nine flats at Kingsdale Court.
“This week’s executive board meeting supported the development of a case for the use of compulsory purchase powers by the council, should those negotiations prove unsuccessful. Such a step would be a last resort and would be taken in support of the council’s ambitions to ensure the best quality of life for everyone who calls Leeds home.”
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