Robinson House consultation additional information

Why are you consulting on demolishing my home?

Robinson House was originally built as a sheltered housing scheme in 1979. It is now run as a ‘Housing Plus Unit’, providing flats with shared services and communal spaces, including a district heating system providing heating and hot water. believe housing has been looking at a number of ongoing challenges that Robinson House poses, including the future investment requirements, the type of homes and the demand for these, the running costs and what options there are to address these issues.

Robinson House is mostly made up of bedsits, with some one-bed flats; types of homes that fewer people choose to live in these days. Over the years, this has meant that homes have stayed empty for longer than average and that people choose to move on more often.

The investment needs of the building and its infrastructure are significant. As well as the ongoing investment needed to keep the flats themselves in good condition, substantial work is also needed to the fabric of the building, its shared areas and the heating and hot water system. In particular, the heating and hot water system has become increasingly difficult to maintain, with frequent service disruptions for customers.

Robinson House is more expensive to manage than many other properties, largely due to the cost of providing communal services such as door entry systems, cleaning and laundry facilities. Although customers contribute through a service charge for heating and hot water, this doesn’t cover the full cost of the provision and is subsidised by other believe housing customers. Overall, the scheme operates at a significant financial loss each year.

Finally, government requirements relating to the management of buildings like Robinson House are becoming more stringent. This means additional investment is required and higher ongoing costs are incurred to ensure the building continues to be managed safely and remains compliant.

For these reasons and after careful consideration, the Board of believe housing has reached the difficult decision to consult with customers on proposals to demolish Robinson House.

What is the consultation process? 

During the six-week consultation period, the Board of believe housing want to hear the views of customers about the proposal to demolish Robinson House. A questionnaire has been shared with you, which we would like you to fill in and return to us.

Following the end of the consultation process, all responses will be presented to the Board where they will be fully considered as part of the next steps of the decision-making process.

Will you really listen to our views? 

The decision to consult customers about possible demolition has not been taken lightly and believe housing’s Board is committed to carefully considering the views of all tenants in Robinson House.

What are the consultation timescales? 

Consultation formally starts on Monday, 13 April 2026 and concludes on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The responses will be analysed and presented to the believe housing Board who will take them into account when deciding the next steps. You will be informed of their decision after this meeting.

What about repair work while we wait for a decision to be made?

Please be reassured that we will continue to address any issues that you report to us while the consultation is underway.

What would happen if you decide to demolish?

If a decision is made to demolish Robinson House, help and support would be made available straight away. You may be entitled to financial compensation through home loss and disturbance payments. The disturbance payments are intended to cover the reasonable costs of moving. Home loss payments (currently £8,100) are provided as compensation for the loss of your home.

We would also help and support you to move through the lettings process, Durham Key Options. If the decision is made to demolish your home, you would receive high priority to move, Band 1. We would help you with the application and with bidding for properties. We would also talk to you about any specific circumstances that you need to be taken into account when considering where you might move to. The decision about where to move would be your choice.

If my home is demolished and new homes are built here, can I move back?

No decision has been made about demolition, therefore no proposals about what would happen to the site have been agreed.