abstract
| - The blocks were approved as two phases, known together as the Kents Moat Project. The first phase, which included three 8 storey flats with a total of 48 flats, was approved in 1955. The second phase was approved in 1956 and included a 7 storey block and a 6 storey block with 42 and 36 flats, respectively. The blocks were completed in 1959 by Wimpey using the no fines concrete construction method. The blocks consisted of 222 flats (74 x 1 bed and 148 x 2 bed). The Poolway shopping centre on the estate consisted of 33 retail units and 70 flats. To the west of the Poolway, The Lea Estate was constructed in the 1960s. Central heating was installed in the early 1980s, but apart from that had few modern features. The 215 tenants in the 222 flats complained of not being able to fit fridge-freezers into their kitchens making the living space inadequate for modern life. By the mid to late 1990s, the flats were in poor condition and did not meet the Decent Homes Standard. Average house prices in this locality are approximately £45,000 lower than those in the Housing Market Area. Residents reported high levels of anti-social behaviour on the estate. Following an analysis of the estate by Birmingham City Council, it was decided that demolition represented the most affordable option for revitalising the estate and was the best course of action financially and in terms of meeting strategic objectives. The green light for their demolition was given on June 11, 2007 and the five tower blocks were demolished in 2008 as part of regeneration of the site.
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