A man and his partner are the final remaining tenants in a crumbling estate wanted for demolition by the local housing association.
Andy Roche has lived in Lower Falinge social housing estate in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, since 1988 and feels his resident Zeburgh building meets all of his needs.
There are six other blocks set for demolition in the area – which in 2013 was named England’s most deprived – but his presence means Zebrugh is not yet one of them.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron called Lower Falinge a ‘sink estate’ in 2016.
And out of 24 flats in Mr Roche’s block, his is the only one still occupied.
The 50-year-old told the Manchester Evening News: ‘It’s upsetting to see them empty because I really like living here.’
Mr Roche has been offered several different housing alternatives by landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) but has turned them down on the belief that his current situation is better.
Mr Roche said he and his partner do not work due to difficulties with their autism.
Andy Roche (pictured) and his partner are the last remaining tenants in their Rochdale housing block, and among the last in the whole estate
The Lower Falinge estate in Greater Manchester, which is set to be largely demolished over the next 12 months
The flat is perfect for them because it offers ground floor access and Mr Roche’s partner has mobility issues.
The couple feel lucky that they have a one-bedroom flat with no shared spaces.
They are far from road noise, surrounded by trees which flower in spring and the area has no gang activity or violence.
‘I’m not saying nothing ever happens but it felt safe here, especially when it was full,’ Mr Roche added.
Estate boss RBH plans to demolish the neighbouring blocks – named Ollerton, Newstead, Romsey, Quinton, Ullesthorpe and Vaynor – and build new homes in their place.
Tenants have been gradually leaving the 1970s buildings over seven years, with the last occupiers having moved out 15 months ago.
With many of the flats left vacant for years and RBH branding them ‘unsafe’ homes, the atmosphere on the estate is eerily stagnant.
Despite his firm insistence on staying, Mr Roche is not entirely opposed to change.
Mr Roche says there are now 128 vacant homes on the estate, while homeless people sleep in cars on his doorstep
Former PM David Cameron called the housing site (pictured) a ‘sink estate’ in 2016
‘The new builds change the nature of our area. We were never against regeneration fully, but we didn’t trust RBH.’
There have already been multiple phases of demolition and rebuilding on the estate since 2012.
Now, newbuilds awkwardly straddle dilapidated 70s housing, which RBH argues is easier to demolish than to improve.
Campaign group ‘Save Our Home’, once going strong in its opposition to the plans, has now dwindled.
There are a staggering 128 empty homes on the estate, Mr Roche said, and many of them suffer from damp and mould problems, including his.
But he believes that RBH prefers not to tackle these issues so as to use their rundown condition as justification for their demolition.
Many of the vacant flats are boarded up, a response to bouts of vandalism in the area.
As much as he does not want to leave, Mr Roche says staying in his home is taking a toll on his mental health and the pressure to move out is constant.
Mr Roche has been offered several housing alternatives but has rejected them all, feeling his current situation is better
Many flats on the estate are boarded up in response to a spate of vandalism on the empty homes
‘If there is some mythical place that is better we would’ve found it by now. Everything I want and need is here,’ he added.
He and his partner feel their community space, once bustling with playing children and commuting workers, has been torn apart.
Mr Roche described feeling like a number on a spreadsheet, and he believes that RBH does not care about tenants’ futures.
One of the last remaining campaigners fighting for the preservation of the homes, even Mr Roche admits it is difficult to keep pushing when so many homes lie vacant.
However, he says local councillors are on his side, appalled at the loss of social housing.
The last round of demolition on the estate took place over five years ago, but another year of destruction is now set to begin.
The Lower Falinge estate campaigners have collaborated with a similar group – Save The Seven Sisters.
Its head Mark Slater has consulted with London-based architecture company Unit 38 to produce a refurbishment plan – an alternative to total destruction.
Six other housing blocks on the estate are due to be demolished by landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (File image)
The plan would see Lower Falinge estate, as well as the Seven Sisters housing blocks, regenerated and brought to modern living standards.
Mr Slater believes that retaining the buildings is the most cost-effective and time-effective option when there are 22,000 people waiting for social housing in Rochdale alone.
And Mr Roche points out the tragic irony that homeless people can be seen sleeping in cars just outside hundreds of empty flats on the estate.
MailOnline has contacted Rochdale Boroughwide Housing for comment.
