Mike Thompson in the stocks. Picture: Justin Lycett BH26930BMike Thompson in the stocks. Picture: Justin Lycett BH26930B
Mike Thompson in the stocks. Picture: Justin Lycett BH26930B

Tower block residents celebrate start of £10m facelift

Ten years ago, residents of the Four Courts complex in St Leonards celebrated the start of a £10million refurbishment with a community fun day. There was plenty to keep people at Bevin Court, Roosevelt Court, Churchill Court and Kennedy Court entertained on June 19, 2010, and AmicusHorizon released a balloon for every one of the 440 residents living there at the time. There was a real sense of community spirit and a party atmosphere. The housing association reinvested rent money to help fund the project, which was completed in 2012.

The four 17-storey blocks in Hollington were built in the mid-1960s to house the civil servants who flooded to 1066 Country for jobs at the then Ministry of Work. They now provide valuable accommodation, including sheltered housing. The residents played a major role in the renovation project, with progress meetings and contractor events held to make sure they were always up to date with what was going on. Speaking in 2012, Paul Hackett, AmicusHorizon, chief operating officer, said: “This was a fantastic joint effort between AmicusHorizon, United House and above all our residents. We’re so proud of what’s been achieved and how brilliantly everyone worked together.”

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