Newbury MP criticises developer over Parkway social housing delay
In 2008, West Berkshire Council shelled out £900,000 of taxpayer’s money to ensure that 37 of the 147 homes were affordable units following SLI’s claims that it couldn’t afford to build any.
The 37 units were completed in early 2013, but are still sitting empty 18 months later owing to SLI not appointing a preferred provider to manage them.
As reported in the Newbury Weekly News last month, the council, which still maintains legal rights over the freehold to the complex, lost patience with SLI and told them it was blocking the sale of new private sector homes until the issue was resolved.
However, when contacted by the NWN last week, the developer said it had still not appointed a provider.
Mr Benyon said: “Their (SLI’s) failure to perform on the social housing element has left a sour taste in our mouths. It is unsatisfactory on every level.
“Every time someone writes to me about a housing issue it angers me because these houses at Parkway are desperately needed and it is so easy for SLI to do something about it.
“I have written to them urging them to sort it out and fulfil their side of the bargain and told them that this is having a major impact on their reputation in West Berkshire, but I got a fairly unsatisfactory response back.
“I will continue to push as hard as I can to get this sorted. The relationship with SLI was good and it is sad to see it end in this way.”
At a full meeting of West Berkshire Council last month, executive member for housing, Roger Croft (Cons, Thatcham South & Crookham) said: “We have a responsibility to the council tax payer who part funded Parkway and to the 37 families and households who should have been occupying the affordable homes for six months now.”
Mr Croft added that he was “very disappointed” by the delay and said it would cause “significant difficulty and distress” to some people wishing to complete private purchases at the complex.
Speaking to the NWN last month, a spokesman for SLI said: “The affordable housing units at Parkway are available to occupy and we are working hard with our preferred affordable housing provider to complete the rigorous due diligence processes required.
“The council is fully aware of the complexity of this detailed work which, unfortunately, is taking considerably longer than anyone might have anticipated.
“We appreciate the frustration this situation is causing, but we’re optimistic that it will be concluded soon so we can formally exchange contracts with our preferred affordable housing provider.
“The council’s decision to stop signing leases on private residential sales is highly regrettable.”
SLI confirmed this week that its position remained unchanged.