First residents move out of flats before demolition
BBCThe first residents have been moved from three tower blocks which are set to be demolished.
Housing association Gentoo confirmed earlier this year it would bulldoze Lambton, Londonderry and Lumley Towers in Sunderland's East End citing repair costs in excess of £15m for each building.
Steven Gordon, the firm's neighbourhoods operations manager, told city councillors the first four people had moved out in recent weeks with more than 40 having accepted offers of a new home.
However, the process is expected to take several years in total.
Structural investigations started on the buildings - known as the "3Ls" - in November 2023, Gentoo has said, with the decision to demolish them coming this August.
Properties 'held back'
At a meeting of Sunderland City Council's East Sunderland Area committee, representatives from the association provided an update.
Mr Gordon said the firm was continuing to work with customers to offer support.
Councillor Michael Dixon, St Michael's ward representative, asked how Gentoo was managing the process of "rehousing so many people in an area where they want to live" – especially in light of lengthy waiting lists.
Mr Gordon responded by noting that before the decision was made to demolish the towers, the firm "held a number of properties back" in areas where they felt customers may be interested in living.
He explained it would have been a similar process if the decision had instead been taken to carry out repairs as residents would have needed to be rehoused temporarily.
"It's not just the East End, Hendon [and] city centre areas that customers are asking for," he continued.
"They surprised us a little bit when we did the consultation. There's quite a few people who are interested in different parts of the city as well."
A previous meeting heard tenants would receive a minimum £8,100 in compensation along with relocation, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.