One of the last few remaining residents of a derelict estate dubbed ‘Britain’s Chernobyl‘ says he will never leave – despite frequent arson attacks, curious tourists and it being earmarked for demolition.
Marshal Craig, 70, still lives in Clune Park Estate in Inverclyde, Scotland, which has been virtually empty for more than 25 years.
Built in 1905, it is made up of 430 flats in rotting tenement buildings as well as a rundown church – all covered in graffiti and litter.
It was abandoned in 1997 and is now a ghost town with some of the cheapest properties in Britain – in 2020 one flat sold for £6,000.
The estate in Port Glasgow in Inverclyde was privately owned, but Inverclyde Council has now bought more than half the properties. It plans to demolish the existing buildings and construct more than 100 new homes.
Marshal Craig, 70, is one of just five residents still living in Clune Park in what used to be 480 apartments
![The housing, first built in 1905, has been virtually empty for 25 years after the majority of the shipyard workers employed nearby moved out](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081509-12093111-image-a-2_1684310679764.jpg)
The housing, first built in 1905, has been virtually empty for 25 years after the majority of the shipyard workers employed nearby moved out
![The local council plans to demolish the housing stock and build up to 120 new homes on the site](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081471-12093111-image-a-9_1684311466829.jpg)
The local council plans to demolish the housing stock and build up to 120 new homes on the site
Mr Craig says he is one of just five people left there but has no plans to leave – claiming it is ‘idyllic’.
His apartment looks just like any other flat on the inside, but is surrounded by hundreds of uninhabitable homes.
The retired forestry worker said: ‘I’ve lived here for 20 years all in all and four years in this particular house.
‘Quite frankly, I don’t want to move and I’m quite happy here.
‘I know it’s rough sometimes and people come in and smash stuff but I’m perfectly happy here and I don’t want to leave.
‘In some ways it’s quite idyllic. My house is built like a castle. The walls are thick and sturdy, there’s a nice view and no dampness.
‘The only thing the view from my kitchen window is missing is a few palm trees!’
But according to the local council, Clune Park estate has the highest neighbourhood level of below tolerable standard (BTS) housing in Inverclyde.
The tolerable standard sets out the basic standards required for a house to be habitable. Housing which does not meet this very basic standard is considered to be BTS and therefore not fit for habitation.
The estate was largely abandoned in the late 1990s after the majority of the shipyard workers employed nearby moved out.
Mr Craig says the remaining five residents all stay in the same area of one block.
![The estate has the highest proportion of below tolerable standard housing, meaning it is not fit for habitation, in Inverclyde](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081481-12093111-image-a-3_1684310751647.jpg)
The estate has the highest proportion of below tolerable standard housing, meaning it is not fit for habitation, in Inverclyde
![Urban explorers frequently visit the site to take photos and post videos online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081475-12093111-image-a-4_1684310875627.jpg)
Urban explorers frequently visit the site to take photos and post videos online
![The previously flourishing estate was abandoned in 1997 and is now a ghost town](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081485-12093111-image-a-17_1684311726255.jpg)
The previously flourishing estate was abandoned in 1997 and is now a ghost town
![But Mr Craig's flat appears just like any other comfortable home from the inside](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081493-12093111-image-a-5_1684311225187.jpg)
But Mr Craig’s flat appears just like any other comfortable home from the inside
![Despite the fact the estate is almost derelict, Mr Craig's flat still has all the amenities he needs such as electricity](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081495-12093111-image-a-6_1684311314625.jpg)
Despite the fact the estate is almost derelict, Mr Craig’s flat still has all the amenities he needs such as electricity
![Mr Craig loves his home and joked he will 'tie himself to the radiator' if the council tries to evict him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081467-12093111-image-a-15_1684311620044.jpg)
Mr Craig loves his home and joked he will ‘tie himself to the radiator’ if the council tries to evict him
He said: ‘When I first moved here there was a lot more people, but now it’s pretty much empty.
‘Now, out of the 480 families that would be able to stay here, there’s only five of us left holding down the fort.
‘They’re great neighbours. I think I’ll be tying myself to the radiator if they make me move out.’
Although Mr Craig loves his home, the estate has become renowned for smashed windows, litter and fires.
Urban explorers regularly visit the site to see the abandoned flats covered in graffiti, posting images and videos online.
Inverclyde Council confirmed they they will be pursuing a compulsory purchase order in January to demolish the estate entirely and build 100-120 new homes.
Mr Craig said: ‘These are good solid buildings. Why not just do this place up and house people in them that need them.
‘There is some anti-social behaviour usually late at night. The fire damage and broken windows are the worst thing.
![The site has become a target for vandals and arsonists, but Mr Craig said his block has remained unaffected](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081473-12093111-image-a-7_1684311382294.jpg)
The site has become a target for vandals and arsonists, but Mr Craig said his block has remained unaffected
![The majority of the flats are small, with 69 bedsits, 310 one-bedroom flats and 51 two-bedroom flats](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081477-12093111-image-a-8_1684311433002.jpg)
The majority of the flats are small, with 69 bedsits, 310 one-bedroom flats and 51 two-bedroom flats
![The vast majority of the estate has fallen into ruin, with rotting buildings and antisocial behaviour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081479-12093111-image-a-10_1684311513829.jpg)
The vast majority of the estate has fallen into ruin, with rotting buildings and antisocial behaviour
![The site has issues with flytipping and vandalism, but Mr Craig vows to remain living in his flat regardless](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081497-12093111-image-a-16_1684311661904.jpg)
The site has issues with flytipping and vandalism, but Mr Craig vows to remain living in his flat regardless
![Inverclyde Council has already acquired over 50 percent of the housing on the estate and are attempting to purchase remaining properties](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/17/09/71081483-12093111-image-a-18_1684311840069.jpg)
Inverclyde Council has already acquired over 50 percent of the housing on the estate and are attempting to purchase remaining properties
‘I probably call the fire brigade more than anyone else and when I hear a fire engine now I don’t even get up to see what’s going on anymore.
‘It’s just part of the background now.
‘That all happens in the other three blocks though. Where we are at the end of the fourth block is absolutely fine.’
The majority of the flats are small, with 69 bedsits, 310 one-bedroom flats and 51 two-bedroom flats.
Inverclyde Council has already acquired over 50 percent of the housing on the estate and are attempting to purchase remaining properties.
A spokesperson for Inverclyde Council said: ‘It remains our ambition to acquire properties at Clune Park to allow for the delivery of long term regeneration of the area.
‘While progress has been frustratingly slow and costly, the ambition still remains and discussions are continuing to achieve this aim at the earliest possible opportunity.’
The council is understood to be considering rehousing options for tenants on Clune Park estate, including offering residents such as Marshall access to private rented accommodation and local social housing.