MK Council has helped the majority of its tower block residents find new council homes.
Earlier this year the council consulted with residents and made a decision to replace both Mellish Court and The Gables with new homes at both sites.
Since October 2020, MK Council has been working with its tower block residents to find them new homes that meet their needs. The majority of council tenants have now moved and the significant majority of remaining residents have either received an offer or are waiting to move or view a property.
The council has given priority to these residents and is now due to make a formal decision on 8 June to allocate £6m of resources to buy up to 30 homes to add to its current housing stock, if needed. The homes will likely either be two-bedroom properties, or a mix of one and two bedrooms dependent on need.
Last year MKC assessments showed that the two tower blocks no longer met the modern fire safety standards now expected. The council has been working closely with Bucks Fire & Rescue Service and immediately implemented a 24/7 warden service at each building as a precautionary measure.
Cabinet member responsible for council housing, Cllr Emily Darlington said: “From the outset we have worked closely with our tenants to ensure we find them homes that are right for them and their families. We’ve found new homes for the majority of the residents of these two ageing tower blocks.
“Allocating this funding means we can buy homes for the remaining tenants in these buildings if we need to. I’d like to thank the residents for their cooperation during this process and I look forward to supporting more tenants into new homes.”
The council is currently working with architects to bring forward proposals for new homes at both tower block sites. The community will be consulted before any plans are progressed.
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