HOUSING association residents at a 43-home estate in Cirencester will be asked to move out for up to two years while a regeneration takes place as the buildings are “not fit for modern living”.

Residents of the Bromford homes in Paterson Road and Golden Farm Road, in the Beeches area, will be asked to leave so the £4.5 million regeneration scheme can take place.

They are being informed of the plans this week, with the work expected to take two years. 

There is no guarantee they will be rehoused in the town prior to the completion of the scheme, but can return to the new homes after completion.

Once all residents agree to the move, Bromford will then seek planning permission from Cotswold District Council (CDC), but the housing association was not clear on what would happen if some tenants refuse.

Many of the homes were built in the 1960s and have experienced problems with damp and insulation.

Bromford manages over 5,500 homes in the local area, and says it is working closely with those affected to find alternative places to live which meet their requirements.

Residents are being provided one-to-one support to find them alternative places to live.

A number of information events will be held so that Bromford can gather feedback from residents and the housing association is working with CDC, Cirencester Town Council and Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown as the project progresses.

Charlie Winter-Taylor, Bromford’s head of localities, said: “Bromford is fully committed to providing each of our customers with a high quality home that supports them to be their best and we now believe we have an exciting opportunity to invest in Cirencester and regenerate these homes at Paterson Road and Golden Farm Road.

“The first stage is to work with customers and discuss options with them but we are adamant that the Cirencester Regeneration Scheme will bring tangible benefits not just to our customers but also the wider community too.”

Stuart Tarr, town council member for Beeches ward, said he was surprised by the state of the homes.

“This tenement block came as a surprise to me – it is not fit for modern living, and is in urgent need of redevelopment,” he said.

“Some residents, having lived there for years, will have a sense of belonging and of community, so the redevelopment proposals must respect their wishes in temporarily rehousing them as sympathetically as possible and giving them the opportunity to return to this very welcome new development when it is completed.

“Bromford have given an upfront commitment that this will be the case and I shall attend the consultation events to ensure this commitment is followed through.”