Resident anger at 'squalor' of condemned flats

"Forgotten" residents in a street blighted by anti-social behaviour centred on an abandoned block of flats have joined their MP in urging Bury Council to take over the building.

In 2023 the fire service condemned the block at 80-100 Baguley Crescent, between Prestwich and Middleton, where there have been several blazes.

Neighbours complain of "living in this squalor for years", while Bury South's Labour MP Christian Wakeford said: "There's probably people squatting in there now and it's potentially a death-trap for them."

A spokesperson for Bury Council said: "There are currently no plans to pursue a compulsory purchase order [on the building] due to the complex ownership arrangements."

The owners of the apartments in the block have responsibility for their own properties, as well as the repair, insurance and maintenance of communal areas.

Meanwhile the freeholder, Enlightened Investments Limited, told the BBC it would like to take full control of the flats.

In a statement, the firm said: "We do not have day-to-day control of the building in the way a managing landlord typically would, but we do have certain legal rights and we have now actively begun to exercise those."

Several windows in the block have been smashed, the roof is damaged, each of the flats have been vandalised, the electricity supply has been disconnected and the building is surrounded by insecure fencing.

The road itself has become a magnet for fly-tippers and there is also a fenced-off wasteland where a series of garages have been demolished.

Wakeford said he believes "a compulsory purchase order needs to be explored" by the council, adding: "The landlord has done so little with this block, but I don't think this situation would be allowed in the centre of Bury, Radcliffe or Prestwich, so we need to quickly find a solution for all the residents who live here."

Those residents told the BBC some buildings on Baguley Crescent have been neglected because property management companies were never set up when the flats were built more than 50 years ago.

Francesca Estasy, 70, who bought her two-bedroom flat on the street in November 1992, said: "I've been told there are several developers that would want to take on this land because the potential for this road is immense.

"We've had to live in this squalor for years and I'm just at a loss as to why Bury Council won't do something about it."

Mark Wells, 66, said: "Baguley Crescent is just disrespected by the council.

"It's an ideal location and if someone invested in that apartment block it would be a vast improvement.

"It just needs money, time and investment spent on this street, then it would come on leaps and bounds."

Neighbour David Hardman, 76, said: "It used to be great round here and, if that apartment block was redeveloped, it could be like that again.

"We're the forgotten people on this road.

"We all pay our council tax but we just need Bury Council to come down regularly and empty the bins, so it's very frustrating."

Despite the condition of the apartment block, it has attracted interest from a number of property investors who have indicated they would like to acquire the building for redevelopment.

Guy Barlow from the Assured Group of Companies, a property developer based in Oldham, told BBC Radio Manchester: "The location is fantastic.

"A social housing developer would be able to access money from the Homes England pot and there would be development grants available, so it ticks all the boxes."

A spokesperson for Labour-run Bury Council said: "We have planned a day of action on 24 July alongside Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Greater Manchester Police.

"We will tackle immediate fly-tipping issues and work with the community to address those responsible for the problems in the area.

"The issues at Baguley Crescent are long standing and the issue is worsened by absent landlords, as well as a minority of local residents who are not living up to their responsibilities.

"We are continuing to ensure the building remains secure and we are also working together to address any concerns within the community."