The Elevate/pheonix scheme

Wynonie Harris said:
Outright vandalism. Ugly concrete boxes to replace craftsman-built stone houses which would've lasted for another 100 years or more.

Why are those in charge so determined to ruin my old home town one way and another? :( :mad:
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[rant] Not everyone wants to live in a terraced house with high ceilings costing a fortune to heat with front doors straight onto the footpath so dirty dogs pee on your door step. People walking inches from your front room window peering in while you watch corrie. No where to park your car and no garden for the kids to play.

Many people want modern new housing with garden space and off road parking. Cul-de-sac's so the only cars being those that live there so the kids are safer with no boy racers screaming down the street taking short cuts.

We live in a terraced house but it is a good size with a garden, garage and (very) short drive. We bought it because we like it but we would not live in a non garden fronted again unless we had to because we dont like them.

If those that have commented about the destruction of our old houses love them so much then fine you live in them but dont moan about those that dont like them its there choice and that is what the builders are offering, a choice of housing. [/rant]
 
What's the point of knocking down perfectly good houses which have years and years of life left in them to build houses of an inferior quality? As for gardens, I seem to remember that those streets off that particular part of Blackburn Road all had their own gardens anyway. There seems to be a tendency here to destroy the town's rich heritage and replace it with an ugly modernity which is totally at odds with its surroundings.
 
Wynonie Harris said:
What's the point of knocking down perfectly good houses which have years and years of life left in them to build houses of an inferior quality? As for gardens, I seem to remember that those streets off that particular part of Blackburn Road all had their own gardens anyway. There seems to be a tendency here to destroy the town's rich heritage and replace it with an ugly modernity which is totally at odds with its surroundings.
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Let's not forget the area just across the road, nearer to Church traffic lights.

An area where once stood for a hundred years, well built stone houses.

They were demolished in the late seventies.

The eighties saw 'new and modern homes' built on the site.

Twenty years they were demolished.

We'll just have to wait with bated breath, to see what they throw up there next.

Whatever it is, won't be as solidly built as what originally stood there.
 
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Neil said:
[rant] Not everyone wants to live in a terraced house with high ceilings costing a fortune to heat with front doors straight onto the footpath so dirty dogs pee on your door step. People walking inches from your front room window peering in while you watch corrie. No where to park your car and no garden for the kids to play.

Many people want modern new housing with garden space and off road parking. Cul-de-sac's so the only cars being those that live there so the kids are safer with no boy racers screaming down the street taking short cuts.

We live in a terraced house but it is a good size with a garden, garage and (very) short drive. We bought it because we like it but we would not live in a non garden fronted again unless we had to because we dont like them.

If those that have commented about the destruction of our old houses love them so much then fine you live in them but dont moan about those that dont like them its there choice and that is what the builders are offering, a choice of housing. [/rant]
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Don't ever move to Chelsea, Kensington, or Belgravia...from the sounds of it, you'd hate it.

;):D
 
I would choose an old terraced house over new build every time.
They have character.......and high ceilings can be lowered.......and most are, when renovations take place.

I don't think people were given a chance to live in them, they were just demolished.
I am pretty sure that if the money spent on building new characterless (my opinion) properties had been spent on renovating and modernising the old terraced houses, then they would have been comfortable and attractive to live in.

Unfortunately some people do not have the luxury of choice, as to whether they have a straight off the street terrace, or one with a garden.......many folk would just be pleased to have a roof over their head.
 
Neil said:
[rant] If those that have commented about the destruction of our old houses love them so much then fine you live in them but dont moan about those that dont like them its there choice and that is what the builders are offering, a choice of housing. [/rant]
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I think that's a little unfair to criticize Wynoni's personal views Neil. You yourself have given your views in your reply which is fair enough. You prefer new-build houses, no problem.

As a "Southerner" I absolutely loved the terraced housing when I moved to Accrington. My house in Bedfordshire looked smart, had a front and back garden, loads of room - - BUT- - we could hear the neighbours walking about at night, TV's and music centres couldn't go against an adjoining wall, before my wife and I had any "night-time" fun, we had to be as sure as we could that our teenage girls were actually sleeping! Our TV often woke the girls and they would often come down to ask if the volume (which was low) could be any lower!

I once decided to take out an interior wall and was surprised to find that between the hardboard was just compressed straw!!

In contrast, the terraced house I now live in (Which is 110 years old) has no garden worth mentioning, the walls are not straight (thinking about it, they are straighter than my old house:rolleyes:) but I can go to bed in the knowledge that I can converse with Willow without being overheard in the bedroom next door, I don't hear my neighbours and they don't hear us!

There are pros and cons whatever housing you choose but the point that was being made by Wynoni is that because some people prefer older terrace housing, it was wrong to pull down these houses just to build "modern" houses.

AND DON'T FORGET!!! And I could be wrong on this, Builders, certain tradesmen and I suspect, a few from the council/quango's have profited quite nicely from the arrangements made. In contrast, home owners were at first offered (under compulsory purchase) silly prices for their homes to be knocked down and I believe this was later reduced to "loans" that were available to assist buying new property which had to repaid should the home owner subsequently sell at a profit!
 
Margaret Pilkington said:
I would choose an old terraced house over new build every time.
They have character.......and high ceilings can be lowered.......and most are, when renovations take place.

I don't think people were given a chance to live in them, they were just demolished.
I am pretty sure that if the money spent on building new characterless (my opinion) properties had been spent on renovating and modernising the old terraced houses, then they would have been comfortable and attractive to live in.

Unfortunately some people do not have the luxury of choice, as to whether they have a straight off the street terrace, or one with a garden.......many folk would just be pleased to have a roof over their head.
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In London, just the otherside of the Thames from Chelsea, Kensington, and Belgravia, are some of the most sought after homes in the capital.

Small, brick built, unilke our superior stone built terraced housing, two up, two down, small back yards, with doors opening straight on to the pavement.

Wandsworth council had the vision not to demolish these former workers' terraced houses.

People aspire to live in them.

As long as they have a million quid, with which to buy one.
 
I've lived in old, new, houses of every sort, and flats.

My preference now is to live in a traditional terraced house.

I've never been happier, than living in my home now.

:)
 
Everyone does have their own preferences, but quite frankly I'd rather live in a cardboard box, or at least be paid, than live in some modern Brookside Close type house.
 
Margaret Pilkington said:
I would choose an old terraced house over new build every time.....
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Exactly and that is your choice. The people who moved into those new ones had a choice as well and they chose to live in them.

We chose to live in an end terrace with most of the pros of a semi.

How many times have people on here moaned about carrying their recycling from the back yard through the house to the front?
 
Neil said:
Exactly and that is your choice. The people who moved into those new ones had a choice as well and they chose to live in them.

We chose to live in an end terrace with most of the pros of a semi.

How many times have people on here moaned about carrying their recycling from the back yard through the house to the front?
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Yes, it is a British complaint......we all enjoy a good moan now and then.
 
mobertol said:
Yes, thanks for that Atarah -is it still there?:)

It's a fantastic building -hope it hasn't been bull-dozed!
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Er yes it has it was on its own for a while after all the other housed where made into rubble but in the end it went the same way and so did sacred hearts church further down Blackburn road and this area is still empty after 4-5 years.
 
17 Hornby St Osw, 1942 - 1961 terraced
249 Dill Hall Lane, 1961 - 1967 terraced
28 West Close Ave Higham, 1967 - 1971 semi bungalow
26 Lord St Osw, 1971 - 1972 terraced
8 Chapel St Belthorn, 1972 - 1978 terraced cottage

27 Laburnum Drive Osw, semi
Hawthorn Ave Osw gfloor flat (shop converted)
the 2 above rented for total 6 months during refurb of -

17 Catlow Hall St Osw, 1979 - 1984 gable end terraced
60 Dill Hall Lane , 1984 - 1991 terraced
8 Barnes St Church, 1991 - 2002 terraced

The list above shows I have lived in seven stone built terraced houses.
The sizes and interior layouts differed, so it is not realistic to say that all terraced houses are better to live in than new builds.

Two of them had only single brick walls dividing next door - hence neighbour noise.
One had no front garden - hence street noise & litter.

Some terraced houses are worth preserving - many aren't.

From my frequent flittings I can say with some authority that what matters most is -
location, location, location.
 
theres a local phrase that explains what they are doing..... polishing a turd ;-)
 
Oh No, please don't apologise. Your comment is very apt and I agree with it entirely....it is just that I didn't want to have to say it.....but I'm glad you did.
 
MargaretR said:
17 Hornby St Osw, 1942 - 1961 terraced
249 Dill Hall Lane, 1961 - 1967 terraced
28 West Close Ave Higham, 1967 - 1971 semi bungalow
26 Lord St Osw, 1971 - 1972 terraced
8 Chapel St Belthorn, 1972 - 1978 terraced cottage

27 Laburnum Drive Osw, semi
Hawthorn Ave Osw gfloor flat (shop converted)
the 2 above rented for total 6 months during refurb of -

17 Catlow Hall St Osw, 1979 - 1984 gable end terraced
60 Dill Hall Lane , 1984 - 1991 terraced
8 Barnes St Church, 1991 - 2002 terraced

The list above shows I have lived in seven stone built terraced houses.
The sizes and interior layouts differed, so it is not realistic to say that all terraced houses are better to live in than new builds.

Two of them had only single brick walls dividing next door - hence neighbour noise.
One had no front garden - hence street noise & litter.

Some terraced houses are worth preserving - many aren't.

From my frequent flittings I can say with some authority that what matters most is -
location, location, location.
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Good points there Margaret especially the location one. People want open space and greenery, security and good neighbours.

The last crackpot Council have sold ALL the land (for £1) where houses were demolished along Blackburn Road to Keepmoat for it ALL to be built on again. They even stupidly allowed them to build right up to the road.

Just so glad they have gone. Everything they touched either wasted £millions or damaged the Borough and that development shows a clear insight into their lack of intelligence. Very few things make me angry but that does.

It should have been as you say Margaret an opportunity to turn it into a more desirable location with a urban forest or huge park with playing fields and land banked the edges for large desirable houses in 5 years or so to net the Borough a financial return.
 
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