Demolition of flat blocks at Townhill Park finally starts

Three dilapidated blocks at Rowlands Walk and two at Benhams Road are being bulldozed in the latest chapter of the Townhill Park regeneration.

The project, led by Southampton City Council, has faced many stumbling blocks since the plans were announced in 2011.

READ MORE: Southampton estate regeneration stalls as developer pulls out

Rowlands Walk demolition, Townhill Park (Image: Newsquest)

Only 56 homes out of the 665 have been completed - but the project is finally moving forward.

Steve Scott, 63, has lived in a house opposite the Rowlands Walk flats since he was a child.

He was confused why they have been empty for so long, adding: "I don’t understand why the council did not move people out of the blocks one by one a few years ago.

“They could have refurbished one, moved people back in, then refurbished another.

“But this way, the council has gotten rid of their responsibility to provide council housing.”

Mr Scott was sceptical the 34 flats and 17 houses promised by the council at Rowlands Walk will be built.

(Image: Newsquest)

His partner Sharon Mogridge, 61, added: “I moved in here 30 years ago and people lived in the flats then.

“Now, the Rowlands Walk flats have been empty for years and I think after the demolition the site will be empty for years too.

“The council is quick to pull the buildings here down, but not put them back up.”

READ MORE: Council leader says ‘you can trust us’ with £60m Townhill Park regeneration

Demolition, funded by the Brownfield Land Release Fund and carried out by Hampshire Environmental Services Ltd, will include removing asbestos from the buildings. It is due to be completed this winter.

The council said it would announce who will be building homes on the Benhams Road site - along with a site that formerly housed shops and a pub in Meggeson Avenue - in a few weeks, with an announcement still to come on Rowlands Walk after would-be developers are evaluated in October.

Kim Ayling outside the flats at Rowlands Walk (Image: Newsquest)

Kim Ayling, chair of Townhill Regeneration Is Leaving Legacy - known as THRILL - said these are the questions that need answering.

The 67-year-old said: “Something is finally happening, and we do want to take that as a positive move in the project.

“But there has already been so much demolition in Townhill Park, but not enough building of new homes.

“What we all really, really want is to know who will be building the new houses.“The affordable housing bids have also gone in, but we do not know who will be providing it, and that is what we are waiting for.”

Lorna Fielker, leader of the council, said: “We are excited that the work to bring new homes to Townhill Park is moving forward."