Garston residents have launched a petition as a last-ditch attempt to stop the demolition of Kytes Drive bungalows.
The estate was built to house ex-servicemen after the Second World War and today is home to a number of retired people with disabilities.
Anchor Housing Association plans to demolish the existing 44 bungalows and make room for 150 new flats and homes.
This has raised concern among residents who, due to varying disabilities, would not be able to live in multi-storey homes.
Bob Sparkes, 72, has lived on the estate for more than 30 years. Together with his wife, he has set up a petition which at the time of writing has nearly 800 signatures.
The petition has sparked residents to share their stories of the estate, and the importance of saving its legacy.
One resident wrote: “My parents were the first tenants on the estate in 1949 and my mother continued to live here until her passing in 2016. It’s so much more than just housing; it is a community.”
Another wrote: “Kytes estate is a unique and ground-breaking development. It was built not for profit, but to give people the opportunity to live independent lives. We seem to live in a world where ‘progress’ equals profit and people are just pawns in the venture capitalists’ game.”
Emma Martin, operations manager at Kytes Drive, said: “As a not-for-profit organisation, we routinely review all our locations and services to ensure we continue to meet the needs of both current and future residents. The proposal to regenerate the Kytes Drive estate was made after carrying out a full and detailed assessment of the options available and the regeneration will provide 150 homes which are fit for purpose and will create more and better affordable housing for the local community.
“Our proposals are driven by the need to keep as many residents as possible in their existing homes until new homes are built; this will be achieved through a carefully phased construction programme. All of the people currently living at Kytes Drive will have the right to a modern, sustainable and fit-for-purpose home once the new development is complete.
“We are still developing the proposals and we have met with residents to discuss the regeneration of the location and will continue to work with them to receive their input, ensure they are updated throughout and to make the process as smooth as possible. We recognise this is an unsettling and upsetting time for residents and are doing everything we can to support them throughout this process. The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority.”
You can see the petition at chng.it/BnYH8hSLbf
Acorn have no idea about our needs. Now we cannot plan our future. They have taken that away from us. I have lived on Kytes for over 53years. All our memories all be wiped out. They say that they will find housing for us while ours will be knocked and replaced. My husband is nearly 80 and paralysed from the chest down. So how on earth can they push us about like this.