The people living on Gerards Bridge estate as Torus begins demolition

After living in his property for almost twenty years, a letter came through Phill's post in 2019 explaining that Torus was planning to demolish 61 homes that surround him on the Gerards Bridge estate, in order to push forward with a redevelopment of the area.

As the housing developer owns many of the properties on the estate that lies between North Road and College Street, the majority of residents have been rehomed in recent years.

However, for homeowners like Phill and his next-door-but-one neighbours on Union Street, they are stuck in the middle of a crumbling, derelict estate that is being demolished all around them.

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'I don't know what their plan is'

Torus has plans to demolish 61 homes on the Gerards Bridge estate (Image: St Helens Star)
When Phill was first informed about the plans almost five years ago, he said Torus gave him an initial offer of £80,000 for his three-story property.

After pushing for a higher valuation, Phill refused a second offer of up to £110k as he believes it does not meet the house's valuation and would not allow him to move into a property of a similar size.

Following that offer in March 2023, the 71-year-old said he has not heard a word from Torus, with the estates’s demolition starting opposite his house in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Phil said he will leave the estate but only for the right price (Image: St Helens Star)
Phill said: "I don't know what their [Torus'] plan is, and if they're going to make me another offer or just grind me down and starve me out.

"Obviously, with the estate being demolished, I want to leave but only for the right price.

"I spoke with a solicitor about the £110k offer and they confirmed that I would have no chance getting a similar sized house for that price."

Tight-knit community replaced with derelict estate

A row of derelict properties fenced off on the estate (Image: St Helens Star)
After growing up in St Helens but later moving to Cornwall for several years, Phill said he was excited for the future once he moved back up north and bought a property in his hometown, particularly as the house was a "decent price and a short distance from the town centre."

While he admitted that the wider estate has "always been problematic" for issues such as anti-social behaviour, he said that there used to be a real community on Union Street, with some of his neighbours even keeping a spare key for his home in case of emergencies.

Since residents started to be moved out of the estate, however, Phill alleged that there has been a marked increase in anti-social behaviour and drug dealing in the area, as well as an "infestation of vermin and rats".

'This is not how I expected to live out my retirement years'

Phill said the ongoing issues has caused him mental distress (Image: St Helens Star)
After years of uncertainty surrounding his future, the concoction of issues has taken its toll on the 71-year-old, who said that he is now on medication to help him deal with everyday life.

He added: "I'm completely isolated here and this question of what's going to happen is hanging over my head all the time.

"It's been very difficult and it seems to just get more and more difficult as time goes on. I'm 71-years-old, a pensioner, and this is not how I expected to live out my retirement years.

"I have to try and block it out and carry on with my life, but my house is crumbling around me, and why would I pay for something if my house is going to be demolished? 

"Torus are a huge company and it's not like I'm trying to swindle them for an obscene amount of money, I just want a fair valuation and the amount that it was worth.

"I don't know what's going to happen or how long the demolition is going to take, but I just want some peace and quiet."

'We will collaborate with residents'

Torus say it will collaborate with residents as it plans to develop the site (Image: St Helens Star)
With plans around the Gerards Bridge estate going on for a number of years, Torus' reason for demolition is due to a "loss of revenue" and "high anti-social behaviour issues" on the estate.

Residents were consulted about the plans in 2019 and 78 percent of those on the estate highlighted their support for the demolition and redevelopment.

Torus has previously said that negotiations are still possible for the estate’s remaining homeowners, but as no agreement has been made, huge question marks remain over the future of Phill and his neighbours.

In a previous statement to the Star, Chris Bowen, managing director at Torus Developments, said: "As a housing developer, our focus has and always will be building great, affordable homes and that is what we will continue to do at Union Street.

“Following clearing the site, we will collaborate with residents and the local community to create plans for an affordable housing scheme that will positively contribute to the areas future."