Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Norman Dunn on 10/3/2025, 12:20 pm

I contacted Adam Ellison a Hebburn Councillor to ask why are the Council asking Tenants to move out of Durham Court Flats. He didnt reply,

just forwarded the email to Mr Dixon.

Good evening Mr Dunn

In response to your query, the current situation is that all tenants of Durham Court have been written to (on Monday 3 March), to advise that a recommendation will be made to the Council’s Cabinet in May to demolish Durham Court and rehouse all tenants. This is due to the age / construction of the building and the significant investment that is required – and that any investment would not guarantee the building in the long term.

All tenants have been invited to attend an engagement session (three in total, all covering the same presentation). Two of the sessions took place earlier this week with a further session to take place on Thursday 13 March. In the sessions, a presentation was given by Council officers, but the main element of the session was for tenants to ask any questions they had regarding the process.

In the session, it was confirmed that, if the decision was made to demolish Durham Court, then there would be no immediate rush for tenants to relocate and that they would be fully supported in doing so (indeed, this process is likely to take a number of years). Furthermore, there will be no “reduction” in the Home Loss payment, which is fixed at £8100.

To clarify, no decision has been made yet and the process at present is to engage with tenants in advance of the decision that will be made by the Council’s Cabinet in May.

Regards,

Phil Dixon
Head of Strategic Housing and Assets

Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Allan Campbell on 10/3/2025, 1:07 pm, in reply to "Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

Norman No body is going to get any further information about the building unless a legal challenge plus inspection is made, money money again.

If I remember there were two blocks and one demolished, were they built at same time ish probably different type of construction.

I suspect that there are possible flaws in the building maybe due its construction. Even an expert would not give an answer as to be certain a very high level of inspection would be required and the Cost.

It will probably be down to the design, type of concrete use or the reinforcement used.

It could be that problems have been detected, early days though.

The building may last as is for some more years but they have to take into account the RISK factor.

It would be cheaper to take action now rather than in say 5 years time and that’s what the council are doing.

Tower blocks are a thing of the past anyway and only a question of time before all are gone.

Not that it matters but what was said at the 2 meetings if people could understand what was said Technology wise.

Allan C.

Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 10/3/2025, 1:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

Allen, your coment, TOWER BLOCKS ARE A THING OF THE PAST ANYWAY, what do you mean by that ?

Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Brian on 10/3/2025, 2:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

Tower blocks are not being built as social housing, the building being erected now are rarely over 5 floors. Private ownership on these constructions are coming in for adverse publicity as freeholds aren't available and the leaseholds along with service charges are often outstripping mortgage costs.
The towerblock near St James which was pushed as the most luxurious in the North East is a money pit changing hands a number of times in its short life. The last owners went bust, a significant number of apartments are still vacant and residents have experienced problems including flooding since the building was signed off. Certainly in this country they are a construction they are in decline.

Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 10/3/2025, 2:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

Don't know if we are talking about the same structures, Tower Blocks vs High Rise Condominiums ? At one time in cities there were height restrictions for residential structures now it seems the sky is the limit as land space becomes sparse.

Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Sheila on 10/3/2025, 2:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

I can only remember one tower Block built in the New Town and that was Durham Court. As I remember you had to be at least 50 years old to apply and no children were housed in the block.

Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Peter on 10/3/2025, 3:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

There were 4 blocks in the Hebburn shopping centre area that I remember. These were Cumberland Court (demolished early 90s), Northumberland Court (demolished in 1999, and footage of the demolition was and still maybe on You Tube I think), Westmorland Court (most recently demolished) and Durham Court. There were also lots of maisonettes of various sizes, which were demolished from around 2009 onwards.

Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Sheila on 10/3/2025, 4:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

I remember the names, but didn’t think any of them were 17 floors high. I only remember Durham Court as being a Tower Block. It seems to stand out much higher than the others.

Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition

Posted by Liz Dance on 10/3/2025, 5:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

With land shortages maybe there should be a complete overview of what should be built, to my mind flats of say no more than 5 stories, all with a decent size balcony, underground or overground parking facilities, to my mind are a much better idea than soulless multi storey buildings with no balconies.

Here they are late 70s

Posted by Norman on 10/3/2025, 6:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Council Reply to my question on Durham Court possible demolition"

Can you name them ?

Re: Here they are late 70s

Posted by Allan Campbell on 10/3/2025, 7:29 pm, in reply to "Here they are late 70s"

Never realised that there were so many of them and now all gone but one, so something wrong.

As we used to drive past Lyon in France on the eastern motorway there were/ are loads of them on the skyline.

Thank goodness never had to consider living in such buildings.

I’m not talking about these very expensive ones that seem to be the Thing these days. But in 20 years will they still be so good?

Allan C.

Re: Here they are late 70s

Posted by Sheila on 10/3/2025, 8:22 pm, in reply to "Here they are late 70s"

Norman, I never realised there was a second high rise block. Then I remembered there was one, it was perhaps where shamrock Street used to be. I think they were a bottom flat then a maisonette on the first and second floor. The block on the right of the photo seems high, but I don’t think 17 floors, which Durham Court has.

Re: Here they are late 70s

Posted by Peter on 10/3/2025, 8:26 pm, in reply to "Here they are late 70s"

Westmorland is behind Durham Court, then the smaller one to the right is Cumberland, and the taller one to the right is Northumberland Court.

Re: Here they are late 70s

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 11/3/2025, 6:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Here they are late 70s"

Toronto Canada in my opinion has gone totally bonkers allowing high, and I mean high, rise structures right on the edge of Lake Ontario. Just a big blob of concrete blocking the view of the lake except for selective residents. Hundreds of migrant birds collide with the structures attracted by the lights at night and have to be swept up daily. The massive structures have created un natural wind tunnels often making pedestrian traffic difficult. The required green space per building is usually a small square of artificial grass ogmented in some cases with grass caps and shrubs on the roof tops. Shopping has been delighted to under ground rooms all lighting artificial. There are often compulsory warning notices,buyer beware,of poor air quality. The list of negatives far out numbers the pluses of being a high rise bunny.just an observation on block living.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.