'Depressed' tenants living in Nottingham's tallest building have been devastated by the cancellation of a planned revamp due to ballooning costs. In January 2022, Nottingham City Homes told the hundreds of residents inside the 26-floor Victoria Centre flats complex that nine million pounds would soon be spent to replace all windows, renovate corridors, replace tower roofs, and provide new emergency lighting and fire doors.
But now, nearly a year after the works were supposed to start in summer 2022, the city council has admitted the full improvement project has been scrapped due to rising cost estimations. The authority, which brought its formerly arms-length housing provider Nottingham City Homes in-house in April, said it was looking for "alternative options" - with it considering a trial for a part refurbishment/part renewal programme.
But those living in the block feel like the city council has now broken an important promise to them. Lee Copson, 52, who has lived on the 25th floor of the behemoth structure for four years, said he and his neighbours were in disbelief when they found out the original plans had been cancelled.
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"We have definitely been left behind because all the other flat blocks, apart from Colwick Woods Court, have been upgraded. People have said to me before 'isn't that building derelict' and I've had to explain it just looks like it.
"Some people cannot even open a window in their flat, which makes it stuffy and depressing - I'm lucky that I can. A lot of windows have been screwed shut because they are dangerous and some are boarded up.
"Everybody living here was looking forward to it. We couldn't believe they had gone back on their word."
There are 464 flats above the Victoria Centre shopping centre - but not all are managed by Nottingham City Council. The freehold for the tower blocks is owned by the Victoria Centre owner, a development agreement made at the time of the complex's construction in 1972.
The city council then took out a 99-year lease until the 2060s. When explaining the original improvement plan for the towers, the local authority said the windows it planned to replace would cover more than five kilometres if placed side by side - which is greater than the distance between the flats and Wollaton Hall.
Shoppers underneath the ageing Victoria Centre flats had sympathy for the residents. Lauren Marshall, 23, who works as a carer, said: “It’s awful to hear about it being put on hold, I feel sorry for the residents living there. False hope isn’t ideal.”
“Improvements should be going ahead to liven up the area and the living situation. Nowadays after coronavirus and the cost of living, everyone is more grateful for the smaller gestures so I'm sure just little improvements would benefit people living in the flats.”
Beth Guy-Clark, 20, who is a student, said “I can’t imagine how those who live there must feel. I’m annoyed and frustrated for them. Being told you’re receiving help and improvements last summer and seeing nothing change.
"It must be alarming to them. Let’s hope the council makes a start soon for them.”
Nottingham City Council explained it needed to find other options due to the complexities of the huge building and economic pressures. “We are aware that some of the windows in the Victoria Centre flats need to be repaired or replaced," a spokesperson said.
"Due to the nature and complexities of the building and the current economic climate, we are exploring alternative options to our original plans that offer a value for money solution while delivering the required improvements for residents. We are currently looking to trial a part refurbishment/part renewal programme and will speak to residents about our plans in due course. In the meantime, our Repairs team is picking up window repairs as and when they are reported to us."
Completed in 1972, the flats form the tallest building in Nottingham, up to 26 floors high.
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