#housing

Corporation Street flats, Stafford, 2025

A three-storey brown brick block of flats with curved balconies, white-framed windows, and a central entrance with a glass block column. There are outdoor chairs, potted plants on balconies, and a grassy area with a path in front.

Red-brick block of flats with white balconies and railings surround a large grassy courtyard. Some windows have satellite dishes. Trees and a cloudy sky are in the background, giving a suburban and tranquil atmosphere.

A three-storey brick building with many windows stands beside trees and bushes. A small covered walkway leads to a door, and several white cars are parked on the left. A security camera is mounted on the wall under a partly cloudy sky.

A brick archway labelled “Windermere House” connects two red-brick residential buildings. A narrow paved path and metal handrail run beneath the arch. A wooden shed and bins sit on the left. Green grass and trees are visible in the bright background.

Pennycrofts Court, Stafford, 2025

A tall, rectangular high-rise block of flats with dark brick walls and rows of balconies stands behind green trees. In front, there’s traffic, including an ambulance and several cars, under a partly cloudy blue sky. Road signs and a lamp-post are visible.

A tall, dark-brick block of flats with multiple rows of white-trimmed windows and light blue balconies is seen from a low angle against a partly cloudy blue sky. The balconies show signs of wear and peeling paint.

A tall, dark-brick block of flats with balconies rises behind two rows of brown and white garage doors. Trees flank the scene and clouds fill the blue sky above. The viewpoint is from the drive between the garages.

Friars House, Chelmsford, 2025

A five-storey modern building with geometric grey facade patterns, large windows, and ground-floor shops. Cars and a van are parked in front. Hanging flower baskets decorate the street, and adjacent buildings frame the scene.

Former office block converted into housing, with an extra storey (dare I say, penthouse?) added. Check out the signage on the Christian bookshop in this photo from 2011.

Lower Falinge estate, Rochdale, 2025

A run-down block of flats with boarded-up windows and doors, stained concrete, a green door, and an elevated walkway connecting two sections. The sky is overcast, and the area looks neglected with no people present.

London council estate with a concrete walkway connecting two buildings. Dark, overcast sky with birds flying overhead. Foreground features textured wall, entrance with pillars, and greenery. Brick homes and trees visible further back, creating an urban scene.

A three-storey, concrete block of flats with weathered walls and boarded-up windows, featuring a raised walkway connecting to another building. A white car is parked in front on a grey, overcast day. Blue railings and empty pavement are visible.

I am not immune to the allure of concrete walkways.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, the owner of the estate, is currently seeking to demolish it, against the wishes of a local campaign group – more in the MEN here.

College Bank / Seven Sisters, Rochdale, 2025

Several tall, rectangular blocks of flats stand against a cloudy sky. In the foreground are trees, bushes, and a lawn with large rocks. A red car is parked on the road, and a building sign reads HALL COLLEGE on the left.

A low-angle view of a brown brick block of flats, showing several storeys with rows of rectangular windows and balconies in the centre. The sky above is cloudy and the branches of a tree are visible in the top right corner.

A tall, dark-brown concrete block of flats with many balconies and windows stands against a cloudy, overcast sky. Green trees are visible at the base in the foreground, and the building appears slightly weathered.

A cloudy day showing two tall, dark high-rise block of flats with many windows. A white car is driving along a curved street in the foreground, with trees and a few low buildings around the towers. The sky is grey and overcast.

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.
College Bank, Wikipedia

Mulberry Street, Manchester, 2025

A two-storey brick building with tall windows, wooden and shingle details, and a decorative green metal archway beside a black garage door. The building is flanked by older red-brick structures and a black streetlamp stands in front. Parked cars line the street.

Walking out of my hotel, I found this charmingly detailed building, featuring horizontal brickwork on the ground floor, and wooden panelling and shingles on the first floor. Appearing to be used as a dwelling, I was surprised to see it amongst much larger, and much older (not least St Mary’s RC Church of 1794, next door but one) buildings, as well as modern 21st century high rises of central Manchester.

Mulberry Passage, which passes underneath it, is also part of a network of passages decorated with public art in tribute to scientist John Dalton.