Andy Roche, 51, is the last resident in a 126-home estate slated for demolition in Rochdale, refusing to move from his flat of 28 years, citing autism-related needs.
Last resident in empty block
Andy Roche is the final resident living in Zedburgh, one of seven 1960s apartment blocks at the Lower Falinge estate in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, which are facing demolition. Six of the seven blocks have already been completely emptied, leaving Andy's one-bedroom flat as the only occupied property in the 126 homes due to be bulldozed.
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) wants to flatten the blocks and replace them with up to 270 new homes as part of a major regeneration scheme. But Andy, who has lived in his flat for 28 years, has refused to move. He lives there with his partner, who is also autistic, and says they have specific needs which have made finding suitable alternative accommodation difficult.
Autism-related needs
The unemployed 51-year-old pays £95 a week for the flat and says he still loves living there despite the increasingly deserted surroundings. He says the estate's green spaces, lack of traffic, and familiarity of the area make it home.
Andy said: "We don't want to leave this area - it's where I've lived all my life since leaving my parents' home. There's never any trouble, and we like all of the green space. Because we're both autistic, we have very specific needs when it comes to things like noise, smells and lights. We've given RBH a list of our housing needs - but they seem to be ignoring it."
Andy claims some of the properties suggested by RBH would not meet those requirements, including one next to a pub and another close to a metalworks.
Eerie surroundings and isolation
The standoff has left Andy and his partner living in increasingly eerie surroundings, with their flat surrounded by boarded-up windows and empty walkways. Lower Falinge was built from 1968, with its deck-access blocks completed in stages into the early 1970s. Today, Zedburgh is surrounded by six empty blocks - Ollerton, Newstead, Romsey, Quinton, Ullesthorpe and Vaynor.
Andy said the deserted surroundings had created an "eerie" atmosphere and left the couple feeling increasingly isolated. He said: "We feel isolated. We worry about people breaking in when we're out of the flat." Andy also claims people have started hanging around the empty estate since residents moved out and suspects some may be involved in drug dealing. With neighbouring properties no longer being heated, he says his own home has also become colder and more expensive to keep warm.
Andy and his partner were served with a notice seeking possession in January as RBH attempts to move them out. He described the situation as "so distressing". Andy said: "I can't understate that. It's almost a matter of life and death with how distressing it is."
Regeneration plans and history
The latest regeneration plans come less than a year after campaigners successfully challenged an earlier attempt to demolish six of the blocks. RBH had sought prior approval for the demolition, but residents challenged the decision through a judicial review and won. The housing association has now returned with a wider proposal which also puts Zedburgh in the firing line.
RBH says the seven blocks have reached the end of their lifespan and can no longer provide the safe and warm homes residents need. But Andy has questioned why other buildings from the same era have been refurbished rather than demolished, including work to address damp and mould. Regeneration of Lower Falinge began in 2012 and RBH says three completed phases have already delivered 100 new homes. In 2016, then-prime minister David Cameron famously described Lower Falinge as a "sink estate".
RBH has not revealed a specific cost for the latest phase of the regeneration. However, the housing association secured £55 million in new bank funding in January to invest in existing homes and support regeneration projects across Rochdale. The plans include improved public spaces and better walking and cycling links to Rochdale town centre. But while several other blocks earmarked for retention remain occupied, residents facing housing pressures have questioned why empty properties cannot be brought back into use.
Mum-of-six Gemma Lucas, 32, has spent three years living in temporary accommodation while waiting for a permanent council house. She said: "We're in a housing crisis - but those blocks are just sitting there empty waiting to get knocked down. Why can't people move into them?"
RBH plans to submit an outline application for the redevelopment to Rochdale Council. If approved, a further detailed application would still be required before demolition or construction work could begin.
An RBH spokesperson said: "We understand this is a very difficult situation for the customers involved, and we have been and will continue to work with them and their representatives to support them with finding a new home that meets their needs. The regeneration of Lower Falinge has been in progress over several years, in consultation with residents throughout. The seven blocks identified for demolition have been empty for several years and have reached the end of their life and can no longer provide the safe, warm homes our customers want and need to live healthy lives. We remain absolutely committed to supporting the one remaining household to move into suitable alternative accommodation. Since June 2025, we have made five offers of new homes, including properties within Lower Falinge and nearby. We will continue to provide tailored practical and financial support throughout the move alongside our partners."
