Council to block right-to-buyfor tenants in demolition area

MANY Hull Council tenants will not be able to exercise the right to buy their homes in the countdown to the multi-million pound redevelopment of local housing estates.

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, Hull Council is preparing a 150m bid to fund a major house building programme which could see 500 council homes and up to 180 private homes built in the Danes and Thorpes areas of Orchard Park.

Officers have prepared an Outline Business Case (OBC) which aims to secure the funding from the Government through the Private Finance Initiative – to be considered by the council’s cabinet on October 25.

Members will be asked to approve proposals for a staged demolition of the blocks over a four-year period between 2011 and 2015.

Pauline Davis, the council’s strategic director for housing investment and renewal, said: “The plans for the area have been developed in conjunction with residents and stakeholders and represent the aspirations local people have for their area.

“If and when the OBC is approved by the Government it will be a real cause for celebration for local people who have fought long and hard for investment in Orchard Park.”

However, another report to be considered by the cabinet on the 25th also underlines the need to prevent further sales of council dwellings to tenants in the areas to be knocked down, which also include properties on the Ings and Preston Road estates.

If tenants became owner occupiers of flats due to be demolished it then becomes more difficult and expensive for the council to acquire the properties.

The Right to Buy (RTB) was enshrined in legislation by Margaret Thatcher as part of her dream of making home ownership available to all.

However, officials say it can effectively be blocked by putting up notices, called Initial Demolition Notices, on all the homes in the agreed demolition areas saying they have been earmarked for knocking down.

Compensation for reasonable costs incurred by the tenants who have already applied to buy their property would be available.

Currently there are no right to buy applications being processed in the areas affected.