St Leonard’s tower blocks residents concerned over redevelopment

Residents in four East Sussex tower blocks that are due to be demolished have voiced concerns over where they will be rehomed.

Southern Housing plans to redevelop Four Courts in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, a 1960s social housing scheme comprising Bevin Court, Roosevelt Court, Kennedy Court and Churchill Court.

Esther Eastwood, who moved in to her flat 27 years ago, described the situation as “very upsetting”.

A Southern Housing spokesperson said the provider remained “strongly committed” to supporting residents throughout the transition.

Residents held a meeting on Saturday to discuss future plans.

Ms Eastwood said she needed help each day from her daughter, who lives down the road.

She said she was worried about where she would move to and “didn’t understand it all”.

“It’s devastating, I love my flat,” she added.

Southern Housing said nine households had already moved into permanent new homes, with residents of Bevin Court the first to be relocated.

Each Bevin Court resident had a dedicated resettlement officer and every household received one-to-one visits, it added.

Simon Lee is one of those who has been relocated and said he was happy with his new flat but said he had a friend who was “distraught”.

“I think they have massively underestimated the social impact this is having on people,” he said.

The redevelopment is estimated to take around 12 years, and is needed due to “the significant shortcomings of the existing blocks”, according to the housing association.

“Many homes lack proper accessibility, presenting real challenges for those with mobility needs,” a spokesperson said.

“We’ve carefully considered all options and believe this is a unique opportunity to create new, high-quality social homes that better serve the needs of current and future residents.

“We encourage any resident with concerns or questions to get in touch with our team so we can continue to provide the support they need.”