Citizen Housing have announced plans for a regeneration programme in Hillfields, with three residential tower blocks set to be demolished over the next three years to make way for better quality homes.
Residents living in Hillfields House, Douglas House and Paul Stacey House will move into alternative homes through a phased rehousing programme beginning this summer.
Douglas House and Paul Stacey House are two of the remaining blocks of the original post-war Hillfields estate. Seven similar blocks were demolished in the early 2000s to make way for the Swanswell campus of Coventry College. Only Pioneer House will remain of the original estate.
Hillfields House stands alone on Yardley Street to the south of the main estate. It was the first block built in the redevelopment of Hillfields in the 1960s.
The decision follows extensive surveys and assessments of the buildings, alongside ongoing conversations with tenants about the condition of their homes and the challenges of living in the blocks.
Residents’ concerns included rising heating costs, difficulties keeping homes warm and increasing repair issues. Citizen concluded that refurbishment would not provide the quality, energy efficiency or long-term sustainability that they want for their tenants.
Bridget Guilfoyle, Director of Asset Management at Citizen, said: “We recognise this will be a significant change for our customers and communities, and we are committed to supporting every resident through the process.
“These buildings have been home to many people over the years, but we have to balance that history with the need to provide homes that are warmer, more energy efficient and fit for the future. Our focus now is on working closely with customers to help them move into homes that meet their needs, while also looking at the long-term future of these sites.”
The rehousing programme will begin with Hillfields House in June 2026, followed by Douglas House in December 2026 and Paul Stacey House in October 2027.
The future use of the sites has not been confirmed, but Citizen state “We’ll explore opportunities to deliver new homes across the sites following demolition.”
The demolition of these three blocks, together with the demolition of Paradise House, announced earlier in the year, and the planned redevelopment of the Spon End estate will see the end of all of the iconic winged roof blocks in the city.