Bang and the dirt is gone: Durham homes to be demolished

A row of houses in Durham are set to be knocked down after they have been infected by damp and mould conditions.  

A total of 15 homes will be axed on Farnham Road, Newton Hall in Durham after residents have complained that they are ‘impossible’ to heat and riddled with issues such as chronic dampness and mould.

In September 2022, housing association, Believe Housing, was made aware of the issues residents were facing after they claimed the organisation was neglecting them. This prompted the company to begin consultations about the demolition of the properties.

This week, Believe confirmed that they will demolish the homes as they are no longer economically viable due to the extensive work that the houses would require to meet modern standards.

Although 81% of tenants agreed this is the right decision for the properties, the issue has divided opinions amongst neighbours – with some welcoming the planned flattening of the ‘problem houses’, others feel ‘let down and overwhelmed’ by the decision. The homes were originally built as temporary accommodation in the 1960s.

Nik Turner, Executive Director of Communities and Customer Service at Believe said the decision was ‘not an easy one’.

She said: ‘While these properties have exceeded their intended lifespan, we understand they are people’s homes, and this is an emotive issue.’

Ms Turner noted that tenants agreed the amount of work that needed doing to the homes was vast, ‘difficult to deliver and would represent a poor value for money.’

Clare Stewart, a resident in favour of the demolition, said: ‘These houses have just gone past the point of fixing. I have lived here for nearly seven years, and we’ve been plagued with damp and mould and cold, so really, I am relieved in a way.

‘Believe has given us options, and have been really good with the situation, everything moved forward really fast.

‘I’d like to stay in the area as my daughter goes to a local school. I do drive, but that is not the case with all residents, so I understand some are apprehensive.’

Rules and guidance on dealing with damp and mould in homes have tightened following the case of Awaab Ishak, who died from prolonged exposure to the substances. 

Image: Colin Rowley