A PROBLEM housing estate is facing the bulldozers and another is to be refurbished after being sold off by Bury Council.

Troubled Tulle Court and Kersal Close in Prestwich are so unpopular with tenants that the majority of apartments lie empty with no hope of letting them.

Both estates have historically suffered from vandalism, crime, poor design and nuisance tenants but the situation has become so serious over the last 12 months that housing bosses decided to take radical action.

After inviting Manchester Methodist Housing Association (MMHA) to put forward a range of proposals for the two sites, the council is hoping to transfer ownership of Kersal Close in Rainsough to MMHA which will then carry out the refurbishment.

However, the cost of refurbishing Tulle Court, situated off Church Lane, would be around £1.25 million and with no guarantees of long-term success, it is not considered to be cost effective.

Steve Whittaker, of Bury's housing department, said the preferred option for the 54 flats and maisonettes which make up Tulle Court was to demolish the main block and stairwells and allow MMHA to build new homes for sale and for rent.

The small end blocks of Tulle Court act as an anchor to the development and these will be refurbished and integrated with the new buildings, which will benefit from a new layout.

An Over 60s club in Church Lane will also be relocated in the new development.

Mr Whittaker said: "The site is very steep and we hope to integrate it with the rest of the developments around there. We hope to put the new buildings at right angles with St Mary's Court and the new layout of the site would seek to address access issues and improve the security of individual homes and the community as a whole."

The plans by MMHA are subject to funding from the Housing Corporation and full consultation will be carried out with the current tenants.

Kersal Close is made up of 15 two-bedroom flats, which are all unoccupied.

Tulle Court, built in the 1970s, comprises 54 homes of one, two and three-bedroom flats and maisonettes. Only 27 are occupied, including three tenants who have purchased their properties under the right to buy scheme.

Discussions will take place with the three households to determine their needs and a public meeting is planned for January 26, at a venue to be decided.

Also involved in the consultation will be the Twinning Association as Tulle Court is named after Prestwich's twin town in France, and Prestwich Heritage Society as the area around St Mary's Church is a conservation area.

Coun Wilf Davison said: "This is another key area in Prestwich that has been crying out for work for some time. I am just sorry that it is not all going to be demolished, but I can see why the end blocks have to stay."

Chairman of Prestwich area board and St Mary's councillor Keith Grime added: "This has been a problem in Prestwich for some time. I hope we get it right and produce a development that will enhance the area."