A BRADFORD housing provider has submitted plans to demolish three blocks of flats and replace them with 37 new homes.

The development would see Taunton House, Osmond House, and Ashton House all knocked down to make way for housing.

The blocks, accessed via Radwell Drive in Little Horton, are all eight storeys tall, and contain a total of 123 one and two-bedroom flats.

Incommunities had initially announced the plans more than a year ago.

If successful, the application will see the flats replaced with a mix of 37 two, three and four bedroom houses, each with gardens and off-road parking.

A new road entrance will be built from Elizabeth Street, and the new houses will be built to match surrounding properties.

Speaking when the plans were first announced in March 2016, residents at the flats reacted angrily.

One man, Philip Hudson, told the Telegraph & Argus: “I’m absolutely devastated.

“They are breaking up a good community. I love this place and I love the people.

“They have totally dismembered people’s lives.”

Michael Hudson, who lived in Ashton House since 1994, said he was confused by the decision to knock down the three blocks of flats.

“Not too long ago they spent a lot of money putting new windows and doors and and fixed the roof. Now suddenly they want to knock it all down. It doesn’t make sense,” he added.

Rupert Pometsey, director of Incommunities - Lumia Homes, said: “We can confirm that we have submitted plans to pull down the three blocks and redevelop the site for much needed family-sized houses.

“Flats in these blocks have proved very difficult to let with a high turnover of tenancies, compounded by the impact of the welfare reform changes on this type of accommodation.

“At the same time we have seen high demand for new family housing in the city at both our Green Lane and Chain Street developments.

“After careful consideration, a full options appraisal and taking into account the long standing low demand for these flats we are planning to replace these with family homes.”

“There are a small number of residents still living in the blocks and we are liaising with them as part of the development plans for the area.”

Public consultation is open on the application until Friday, July 7, and to comment visit the Council’s planning website or write to the Planning Service at Britannia House, Hall Ings, BD1 1HX, quoting the reference 17/02730/MAF.