Council confirm high-rise flats will be demolished

Durham Court in Hebburn is the town's last tower block

A council has confirmed its decision to demolish a high-rise residential tower block.

Nearly 100 people living in Hebburn's Durham Court had been told in May the flats would be flattened, as it would cost about £12m to maintain the ageing building.

South Tyneside Council reaffirmed its plans at a meeting on Wednesday after the original decision was questioned by its scrutiny committee.

The Labour-led local authority said the block, built in 1974, had exceeded its intended lifespan and residents, many of them elderly, would be rehomed.

Residents previously told the BBC the building - which is seen by some as a landmark in the town- was a "thriving community" of people "who all look after each other".

Widow Emily Rice, 94, said she wanted Durham Court to be her last home.

'Unsustainable financially'

Councillor Jane Carter, deputy leader and lead member for housing and community safety, said it was a "difficult but necessary decision".

"Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our residents," she said.

She said the investment required to bring Durham Court up to modern standards "would have placed unsustainable pressure" on the council's housing revenue account and "diverted resources from other essential housing improvements across the borough".

The council said it would work closely with the 70 households affected and give them priority access to "suitable, alternative accommodation".

It added the demolition process is expected to take between three and four years, including the rehousing period.