News, Politics

Council promises improvements for ‘neglected’ Clifton housing estate

By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

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Nottingham City Council has promised improvements will be made to a housing estate in Clifton where people have been living in ‘neglected’ homes for years.

Back in January the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited the Eddleston Drive estate in Clifton, where some residents said their homes had been plagued by rotting window frames, peeling render, damp, and poor insulation.

That month the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), the independent body responsible for checking council housing, said it had found serious quality and management failings with the council’s properties.

The authority was awarded the second-lowest standards rating possible as a result.

The LDRS revisited the estate again on Monday (June 23) and was told by some residents little had changed since January.

Breda Taylor, who is retired but works two cleaning jobs, said mould had now been removed from her bedroom, but damp was still a problem in her kitchen and bathroom due to peeling render, rotting woodwork, and poor tap fittings.

“They have fixed the damp in my bedroom,” she said.

“But they have put some taps on my bathroom sink that are the wrong size, so it is flooding and making more damp.

“They promised I would get plastic window frames but that still hasn’t been done, so I’ve got mould in my kitchen. Why can’t we have what the houses have down the road?

“It would not be half as bad if we hadn’t been neglected.”

The LDRS raised the remaining problems with the council, which said improvement work is planned.

Results from a retrofitting project in the same estate, during which homes were fitted out with improved external walls, doors, windows and solar panels, are being used to “shape future investment programmes”.

A council spokesperson said: “Improvement works are planned for the Eddleston Drive estate, including external repairs to address the condition of the walls.

“This follows a recent retrofit pilot carried out in the area, the results of which are being used to shape future investment programmes. We have also secured additional government funding to help accelerate this work.

“The flats are a mix of council-owned homes and leasehold properties, and we need to consult with leaseholders before any work can begin.

“In addition, we’ve been undertaking stock condition surveys and addressing any issues identified under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

“We understand the concerns raised by residents on the Eddleston Drive estate and remain committed to improving the condition and energy efficiency of our council homes across the city, with the goal of achieving an EPC rating of C.”

The spokesperson did not provide a timeframe for when the works would be done. They added anyone experiencing disrepair or damp problems should report them to the council on 0115 915 2222.

Ward councillor Kevin Clarke, leader of the opposition Nottingham Independents and Independent Group, added: “It is not before time.

“I’ve been on about this for years now. In my opinion it is long overdue. In all honesty I think they need knocking down and rebuilding. The design of these properties, the prefab, is full of trouble.

“They are not weather proof and they are going to be an everlasting problem. They are outdated in today’s construction.”

The council now manages its housing services itself, after it brought them back under its control in April 2023 from arms-length management organisation Nottingham City Homes.