College Bank, known locally as the Seven Sisters, is a group of seven residential tower blocks located in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Built in the 1960s, the towers are a prominent feature of the town's skyline and a symbol of post-war urban regeneration.
In recent years, College Bank has faced significant challenges, including structural deterioration and safety concerns. In 2017 Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) proposed demolishing four of the towers, prompting strong opposition from residents and the formation of a campaign group. Following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in a nearby RBH-managed property in 2020, RBH was placed under special measures, limiting its ability to secure funding for repairs to College Bank. In 2025 an independent structural survey deemed all seven towers unsafe, leading to plans for full evacuation in the coming months and growing uncertainty over the estate's future.
History
Planning
In 1961 Rochdale Corporation initiated a major housing redevelopment project for the town, which involved the clearance of a former slum area.[1] College Bank was subsequently designed by borough surveyor W.H.G. Mercer and architect E.V. Collins of George Wimpey & Co.[2] The original plans included four tower blocks ranging from 20 to 21 storeys and three blocks between 16 and 17 storeys in height.[1]
Construction and occupation
Construction began in the early 1960s, with the estate officially opening in 1966.[2] The development was part of a broader effort to replace slum housing in the area known as "The Paddock" and provide modern homes for working-class families.[2] The estate comprises 761 flats[3] across seven towers: Dunkirk Rise, Holland Rise, Mardyke, Mitchell Hey, Tentercroft, Town Mill Brow, and Underwood.
In October 1966, The Guardian described College Bank as a "housing experiment in a town's centre," highlighting its role in urban renewal.[4] The total cost of the development was approximately £2.5–3.5million.[1][4] Although the blocks attracted families from across the North West, they were not primarily intended to address Rochdale's council housing waiting list, which stood at around 2,000 applicants at the time. Due to relatively high rents—reportedly up to twice the cost of standard council housing—the flats were unaffordable for many on the list. Instead, the development aimed to attract professional residents to the town centre and was largely funded through government subsidies.[4]
In the late 2000s, solar panels were added to the rooftops to power communal lighting and improve energy efficiency in the ageing buildings.[1]
2017–2022
In 2017 Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) announced plans to demolish four of the towers—Dunkirk Rise, Mitchell Hey, Tentercroft, and Town Mill Brow—and replace them with low-rise housing.[3] This sparked significant opposition from residents and led to the formation of the Save the Seven Sisters campaign group.[5] Hundreds of tenants relocated from the estate following the announcement.[6]
In 2022 RBH was placed under special measures following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died as a result of prolonged exposure to black mould in his family's flat,[7] located approximately one mile from the College Bank estate. A coroner concluded that the mould was the direct cause of the child's death. As a consequence of the regulatory downgrade, RBH has reportedly been unable to secure investment for repairs to College Bank, despite the appointment of a new leadership team the following year.[8]
2023–present
Although demolition plans were shelved in 2023, RBH reignited concerns in late 2024 by stating that "all options were back on the table" following the collapse of a refurbishment partnership with Legal & General Affordable Homes. The estimated cost of refurbishment had exceeded £107 million, prompting RBH to explore alternative redevelopment strategies.[9]
On 22 October 2025, RBH informed residents of College Bank that all seven tower blocks must be vacated in the coming months due to serious building safety concerns.[10] This decision followed detailed independent surveys which revealed structural issues that compromised the long-term safety of the buildings, regardless of whether refurbishment or demolition is pursued.[5]
The surveys identified a range of structural and infrastructure issues including defects in the buildings' concrete frames, electrical system faults, roof deterioration, and failures in the water pumping mechanisms.[11] Additionally, residents faced high energy costs due to inefficiencies in heating and lighting.[12]
The surveys confirmed that residents will need to relocate temporarily or permanently, depending on the final regeneration plan. A decision on the future of the site is expected by the end of 2025, with input from the College Bank Task Force.[13] In response to the surveys, members of the campaign to Save the Seven Sisters opposed the move, arguing it implied a pre-determined decision to demolish the estate and vowed to resist relocation.[14]
Architecture
Dunkirk Rise, Mitchell Hey, Tentercroft, and Town Mill Brow
The towers were built using reinforced concrete, typical of mid-20th-century high-rise construction. In the taller blocks, each floor was designed to accommodate four two-bedroom flats and two bedsit units intended for single occupancy. The smaller blocks feature a layout of four one-bedroom flats and two bedsits per floor.[1]
Each building originally featured a rooftop common room intended for tenant meetings and social events, as well as amenities such as underfloor heating.[4]
Four of the towers—Dunkirk Rise, Mitchell Hey, Tentercroft, and Town Mill Brow—are the joint-tallest buildings in Rochdale, each standing at 64 metres (210ft) in height.[15][16][17][18]
Location
The estate occupies a prominent location near the town centre and is bordered by several key roads. St Mary's Gate (A58) runs near the southern edge of the estate, while Spotland Road (A680) forms part of the northern boundary. Within the estate, College Bank Way provides internal access via Holland Street, and College Road links the area to surrounding neighbourhoods.
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