WORK is beginning this week on the second phase of demolition of high-rise flats on Manchester Road, one of Bradford's biggest ever demolition projects.

Demolishing the eight high-rise blocks, owned by Incommunities, off Manchester Road, will pave the way for a multi-million development of family-sized homes.

After a 62-metre high giant excavator starting make short work of the five Court flats in December, that part of the site is now clear, ready for second phase work to begin on three nearby 'Y' block flats.

Rupert Pometsey, Incommunities’ director of development and growth said: “Our demolition programme is progressing very well with all five Court blocks now demolished.

“This week work is starting on stripping out the interiors at the three ‘Y’ blocks nearby - Ashton House, Osmond House and Taunton House. We expect this to take about four weeks.

“The 140-tonne high reach excavator has done its job and the demolition of the main structures of the three blocks will be handled by two 80-tonne high reach machines from our contractors, Thomas Cromptons. This will follow the removal of the interior materials.

“We expect all eight blocks to be fully demolished by this May.

“This has been one of the city’s biggest demolition projects with 30,000 tonnes of debris already removed from the site to be recycled and turned into hardcore for roads and construction use.”

After local contractors carried out out the internal stripping out of materials and cladding at Stuart, Tudor, Hapsburg, Windsor and Bolingbroke Court blocks, the 140-tonne Hitachi high reach machine – one of only three in the country – started demolishing the upper walls of Windsor Court on December 10 before moving onto the other blocks.

The excavator was brought to the site in four sections before being assembled and needed a special highways escort arranged by the contractors, Thomas Crompton Demolition Group. It worked alongside the two 80-tonne machines which pulled down the blocks' lower floors.

Incommunities took the decision to demolish the blocks due to the consistently low demand for the homes and after a review of all the options for the blocks. All the tenants were successfully rehomed to properties and areas of their choice with the help of the group’s neighbourhood staff.

Planning permission is in place covering both cleared housing sites to develop over 100 affordable family homes which better meets housing demand in the district.

Mr Pometsey added: “It was great to see these specialist excavators move onto site as we get to the ‘business end’ of the demolitions of these blocks. It was quite a sight as the structures come down and we look forward to a new beginning for the community.

“We have planning approval in place and are now finalising plans to deliver a landmark development that will be a catalyst for the revitalisation of the area.”

Angela Perry, Incommunities’ Assistant Chief Executive of Asset Management, said: “We are all really excited about building a new future at Manchester Road.

“There has been a significant change in the type of homes people want and it’s about providing the right housing in the right place. We are committed to regenerating the area with a development that provides attractive affordable homes with easy access to the city centre.”