HOUSING chiefs are drawing up plans to move tenants out of a Huddersfield tower block.
They are looking to move people from the Ibbotson Flats – which could vanish under controversial redevelopment plans on the edge of the town centre.
And current tenants could be entitled to compensation.
Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH) have revealed their plans to rehouse Ibbotson tenants.
A spokesman said: “We plan to move tenants out within 18 months and we will try to find them all suitable accommodation.
“All tenants will receive a letter about this in the next few weeks.”
The spokesman added that KNH tenants who stayed until the end would be entitled to a £4,400 home loss payment and removal costs.
The offer does not apply to non-KNH tenants of the flats.
The flats are scheduled to be demolished if a deal between Tesco and Kirklees Council gets approval.
Tesco’s plan would see the existing supermarket on Viaduct Street being flattened, allowing the retail giant to use the land for housing, offices, shops and a hotel.
The retailer would then build a new store on the site of the existing Huddersfield Sports Centre and the flats.
A new sports centre would be built on the site of the Springwood car park.
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman believes Tesco’s proposed new supermarket would be an eyesore, cause traffic problems on the ring road and hurt town centre traders.
Sixty people attended a public meeting last month to protest against the plan.
Mr Sheerman agrees that the flats should be demolished, but believes that a supermarket shouldn’t be put up in their place.
He said: “There’s no doubt that those flats are not the most wonderful place to live. They never have been and I’ve always wanted them to be replaced.
“That whole site, with all those awful buildings like the job centre, needs to be redeveloped.
“The flats are totally inappropriate and I’m with anyone who thinks they should be replaced with something better but that doesn’t mean that selling out the town to Tesco is the answer.”
