15 homes on a Durham street are set to be demolished after residents complained that their houses were “impossible” to heat, and “riddled with issues” like chronic dampness and mould.

In September 2022, The Northern Echo reported on the issues faced by residents on Farnham Road, Newton Hall, who said that issues in their homes – owned by housing association Believe Housing – were the result of “neglect”.

This prompted Believe Housing to start consultations about the demolition of the properties.

This week, Believe confirmed that they will demolish the homes, as they were no longer economically viable due to the extensive work that the 15 houses would require to meet modern standards.

Read more: Residents on Durham street react to demolition consultation

Though 81 per cent of tenants agreed with demolition in the six-week consultation period, the issue has divided opinion among neighbours – with some welcoming the planned flattening of the “problem houses”, whereas others feeling “let down and overwhelmed” by the decision.

The Northern Echo: Their homes were built as temporary accommodation in the 1960s.Their homes were built as temporary accommodation in the 1960s. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Clare Stewart, a resident in favour of the demotion, 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 mould and cold, so really I am relieved in a way.

“Believe has given us options, and have been really good with this situation, everything moved forward really fast. It is what it is – if I have to move, I have to move.

“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.”

Read more: Residents on Durham street say homes 'riddled with mould'

Known as Calder homes, they were factory built and then finished on-site, with timber frames and asbestos cladding. They were initially built as temporary accommodation for passport office workers in the 1960s.

A Believe Housing spokesperson said: “The non-traditional construction of the properties makes issues such as poor insulation, noise transfer, and heating costs difficult and costly to address. ”

This meant that the only economically viable solution the housing association saw was to demolish their 15 houses on Farnham Road.

Though only 6 per cent were against demolition, resident Pauline Hardman, who lives in one of the Calder homes with her partner and four children, has been left bereft by the decision.

She said: “I was part of the campaign, but getting my home demolished was never the intention.

The Northern Echo: Residents claim new tenants were allowed to move into properties on the street as recently as three weeks ago.Residents claim new tenants were allowed to move into properties on the street as recently as three weeks ago. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Read more: Crook Believe house is 'plagued with mould', says pregnant tenant

“I was hoping that a bit of human decency would prevail, and they would agree to fix the properties.

“I’m not naïve, I always knew that it would be a lot of work to get the houses done, but I have spent five years of life curating and creating our home to make it sensory for our neurodivergent family.

“It’s bleak – I wish we had good quality social housing that everyone had access to. Instead, these houses are in this state because they’ve been neglected. They’ve been left in disrepair for decades.”

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Believe Housing has promised to “work closely with all affected”, helping tenants to move into the right home to meet their needs and in areas where they feel happy.

Dedicated support will be available throughout the process, including compensation and financial support.

Known as Calder homes, they were factory built and then finished on-site, with timber frames and asbestos cladding. They were initially built as temporary accommodation for passport office workers in the 1960s.

Nik Turner, Executive Director of Communities and Customer Services at Believe Housing, said: “The decision to go ahead with demolition was not an easy one. 

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

“However, it was clear from the outcome of the consultation that customers also recognise the need for action to address the problems with these properties. 

“All their feedback was carefully considered alongside the extensive improvements that would be needed to bring the homes up to modern standards. These would be disruptive for tenants, difficult to deliver and would represent poor value for money.