Uplands residents speak of devastation amid plans to demolish homes

The Uplands was built in the early 70s as part of the Runcorn New Town development.

Carl Storey is one of the many residents who have received letters to say their homes will be demolished as part of a regeneration scheme submitted by social housing company Riverside.

Redevelopment plans will see 317 existing homes as well as the community centre be demolished and replaced by 257 brand new homes.

Carl spoke of when he and other residents were first informed of the plans.

Carl has grown up on this street and so have four generations of his family (Image: Carl Storey)

“In September last year we got a brochure and they said they would give us market value plus 10 per cent for our homes.

“I have spent in the last two years about £40,000 upgrading this house for my disabled son.”

Carl explained that he has adapted the house to be suitable for his six-year-old son Bray who was diagnosed with CNT, a muscle wasting disease, and now uses a wheelchair.

“I live next door to my mum and dad and my nana lives down the road from us,” he explained.

“We cannot buy back our memories and we have no choice in this.”

From left to right: Heather Storey, Bray, Tate, Carl Storey (Image: Carl Storey)

As part of Riversides plans, the new homes would consist of 184 houses and 73 apartments. 

In its planning documents, the firm accepts there will be a reduction in the number of houses on the new Uplands estate but claims that only 48 per cent of existing residents it has spoken to have expressed a definite desire to stay where they live now.

Forty-year-old financial advisor Carl is not alone in his devastation for the future plans, with many residents attending weekly meetings to voice their concerns and disapproval.

“They are demolishing an entire street and making everyone homeless,” Carl said, adding that many of his fellow neighbours have lived in the area since the housing complex was built more than 50 years ago.

“They have all paid their homes off now. They don’t want to have to move. My nana has lived on this street her whole life. She is 92 years old. Every memory she has at that home will be taken away.”

92-year-old Joyce Whitfield has lived on Uplands since it was built in the 1970's (Image: Carl Storey)

64-year-old Jean Crymble is another Uplands resident who has lived in her bungalow since 1980.

"I have no mortgage to pay and retirement is round the corner," she said.

"This is so upsetting and so very stressful and heart breaking at our time of life.

"We have a small block of five houses on my row and great neighbours, only one house is owned by Riverside, all the rest are bought. We are all at are our witts end."

Carl has spent more than £40,000 on developing his home to be suitable for his 6-year-old son Bray who requires a wheelchair (Image: Carl Storey)

The move is part of a wider planned £60m regeneration of Palacefields, with the council's development management committee having already approved the first phase in August.

The first phase includes the demolition of the existing local centre and shops and replacing it with a new centre and stores, bulldozing Bethesda Church and replacing it with a new church building, creating new homes – including a veterans’ village – and redeveloping the derelict Tricorn Pub and stables to create new homes.

A design and access statement submitted in support of the new proposals, said: “This place-making regeneration development proposal will improve the overall sense of quality of the built fabric, the highway network and the landscaping within The Uplands area of Palacefields.”

If plans are confirmed to go ahead, work on the area would begin when the local centre is complete which is predicted to be around the start of 2028.

Summarising some resident’s feelings towards the redevelopment, Carl added: “They are destroying a community. These are not just houses, they are homes.”

A spokersperson from Riverside said: "We recognise the impact regeneration can have on communities which is why it has been important to us to involve residents in the design and shaping of this project since 2019.

"We have carried out a number of key consultation events and activities, listening to feedback and have approached residents to establish their housing needs to build these into our plans.

"Most recently in February 2023, we received positive feedback on the draft plans shared, with 61per cent of respondents agreeing that the overall design proposals would create a well-designed neighbourhood for the future.

"Our dedicated regeneration team are committed to supporting those affected to relocate to suitable homes for them, including offering financial and physical relocation support and have assured that homeowners will be given first refusal on new builds.

"We also understand that not all residents are interested in purchasing a new home or remaining in the area and are exploring alternative existing properties.

"We will be working with each household individually or as a family of households to support them together if required."