Foxhill residents who raised enough money to mount a legal challenge and fight regeneration plans by social housing landlord, Curo, are celebrating after the announcement that rather than facing demolition, their homes will be refurbished instead.

In a hand delivered letter to residents by Curo staff, Victor da Cunha, Curo Chief Executive, said: “We have reluctantly taken the difficult decision to change our approach to regeneration at Foxhill. We will no longer consider demolition of homes on the Foxhill estate, either privately owned or belonging to Curo.

“Instead, we will work in partnership with local residents to create a new plan, focussed on significant investment in the refurbishment of existing Curo-owned homes over the next few years. This will help give certainty to residents and deliver improvements to homes in Foxhill more quickly.

“As you may know, Curo – a housing association with charitable status - bought the Ministry of Defence land at Foxhill in 2013 because of the opportunity it offered to bring investment and lasting improvements to the Foxhill estate for the benefit of its residents. We worked with B&NES Council and local residents to develop a shared ambition for the new homes, improved connections and greater opportunities that could be created.

“However, since 2013, many things have changed. We were clear from the start that to deliver high quality new homes and sufficient affordable homes through large-scale regeneration on the Foxhill estate we needed three things: community support, political support and government funding to increase the number of social rented homes proposed.

“We’ve been working with and listening to the local community over the last five years. It’s clear that there is some opposition to the demolition of homes and to the loss of social housing that redevelopment would inevitably entail.

“We have received varying levels of political support and we have received no clear decision about grant funding from central government.

“Residents have told us that they no longer want to live with the uncertainty of what may happen to their home in the future. The recent legal action by a group of residents may result in further delays and uncertainty for twelve months or more. Even if this legal action is unsuccessful, this would not promote the necessary consensus to deliver a truly community-owned, successful project.”

Curo faced mounting criticism over its plans to demolish up to 700 homes, with the loss of up to 99 socially rented homes. As well as all of the uncertainty and stress to residents, many of whom were elderly and had lived on the estate for the majority of their adult lives, there were also fears that many residents would not be able to afford to stay in the city that they call home. At the time, Curo said that installing new windows, central heating or insulation would not deliver real value for money or lasting, positive change for the area.

The idea was to use profits generated by the MOD land Mulberry Park development to regenerate next door Foxhill. Leader of B&NES, Tim Warren had recently stated he would not sanction any mass compulsory purchase orders for the site and Bath MP, and saw Wera Hobhouse, lobbying the Government for extra funding to increase the number of affordable homes planned. Despite pleas to the Government, the MP had been told that it was a local issue to be resolved by B&NES Council, who had granted outline planning.last November.

A spokesperson for B&NES Council released the following statement: “As the local planning authority, the Council has always taken a balanced view to this project.  However, the Council has always made it clear that it supports improvements to the quality of housing for local people, delivered in a way that has the broadest possible support amongst the Foxhill community, and the Council has made significant efforts to facilitate better communication between Curo and local residents.

“This has included working with residents and Curo to develop the Foxhill Charter, and taking the lead in the successful application to Government for Housing Zone status. 

The Council therefore remains committed to the principles of improved housing and investment in the area, providing increased opportunities for residents in Foxhill.

“We hope that Curo will take the opportunity to take stock of the situation and that they will continue to engage with their residents to give them more certainty over the future of the estate.

“The Council will look at the implications of Curo’s decision in more detail over the coming weeks.”

Councillor Cherry Beath, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Combe Down and Chair of B&NES Council said this week: “Curo has been forced to make a tough decision but, in view of the circumstances, this is the right decision, and is in line with what I had advised from early in the process: a more sensitive, organic approach, working with residents. It will give certainty to residents and will be a great relief to those who opposed the demolition of their homes.

“This will also avoid a lengthy and expensive legal process, which would have held up any positive refurbishment to homes and the area. However, care will be needed with residents in the former first phase, who would have been planning for a move, and I will expect particular attention with arrangements.

“I welcome Curo’s commitment to work with residents going forward. Along with Wera Hobhouse MP, I have been working hard to help facilitate discussions between residents’ groups and Curo, and will continue to do so in this new phase.”