TWO UNPOPULAR high-rise blocks of flats at Parkwood Rise are set to be knocked down.

Housing group Incommunities this week revealed that demolition was a leading option for the future Delph and Leylands House.

Incommunities said the 53-year-old blocks, two of the most striking buildings on the Keighley landscape, would be too expensive to refurbish.

The blocks have proved difficult to let in recent years, and less than half of the 190 one, two and three-bedroom flats are currently occupied.

Incommunities outlined its proposals to the blocks’ existing 85 households at an open meeting on Monday this week.

The low-rise blocks below Delph and Leylands House, known as the ‘gas flats’, are likely to be refurbished at a future date because they are still popular with tenants.

Cllr Doreen Lee, whose ward includes Parkwood Rise, was delighted at the prospect of the high-rise blocks being demolished.

Other local politicians including Keighley MP Kris Hopkins welcomed news that Incommunities was taking action on the much-maligned blocks of flats, but stressed the housing group must help existing tenants with finding alternative accommodation.

Incommunities is understood to have been looking at the future of Delph and Leylands House for at least the past 18 months.

The housing group this week said that following a “thorough options appraisal” it was now drawing up plans for the buildings’ future.

A spokesman said: “No decision has been made regarding the future of the blocks – we are still assessing our options. There are no timescales as yet.

“Over the past three years many homes that have become vacant have proved very difficult to re-let. It has also proved financially unviable to refurbish the blocks.”

Incommunities would not reveal the possible alternatives to demolition due to “commercial sensitivity”, but the Keighley News understands that in recent months the housing group has tried without success to attract a buyer for the buildings.

The full-day tenants’ meeting on Monday included a discussion covering re-housing options available to tenants through Incommunities, which owns thousands of former council houses and flats across Bradford district.

Incommunities promised assistance with individual moves, and is holding advice surgeries for tenants in the community room at Leylands House every Wednesday and Friday between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

Helen Gibson, Incommunities’ Director of Neighbourhood Services, said: “Staff will be working closely with customers from both blocks to ensure we work to meet their specific housing needs.

“As well as providing support to our customers we are looking at future options for the site.”

Incommunities confirmed it had no plans to demolish its three-storey ‘gas flats’ which lie further down Parkwood Rise.

A spokesman said: “They are currently of high demand and well occupied and all have customers waiting.

“We are looking at costings for new bathrooms, kitchens and redecorating communal is but there are no definite dates at this time.”

Incommunities’ plans are separate to a planning application – recently submitted to Bradford Council – to build up to 30 homes on the former allotments alongside the high-rise flats. The allotment land is owned by the Chatsworth Settlement Trustees.