A newly built housing estate has been deserted and left boarded up amid a planning row. Pictures show 33 homes on the plot in Calstock, Cornwall, left abandoned after the developer’s costs snowballed out of control.
It’s claimed the council delays resulted in the firm accumulating £1.2 million in interest payments and can no longer afford to continue the work.
Homes on the site have been boarded up and left. It’s believed the development could be handed over to the lender.
Director Michael Wight accused Cornwall Council of “weaponising” legal agreements. He said officers had added additional requirements to the plans – like a second road and a £750,000 retaining wall.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Wight added that their budget was “eroded” as a result.
Cornwall Council said that it is actively engaged in discussions with the stakeholders involved – adding that issues with the development had been “ongoing for several years”.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “The council is committed to working with developers that have been granted planning permission to ensure that a housing development, and the agreed number of affordable housing homes, are delivered in line with the planning permission.”
“Issues with this development have been ongoing for several years and the Council has done all in its power to work with the company however, we must adhere to local and national planning policy, including local neighbourhood plans.”
“The Council remains in active discussions with stakeholders to find a solution to secure the delivery of the development, including the vital affordable housing element.”
Parish councillor, Dorothy Kirk, told the BBC said it was “a tragic situation where everybody loses”.
She added: “I hope somehow we can rescue it.”
“We have to find a solution, end of. I don’t want Calstock to be deprived of homes, I don’t want to see the developer lose everything.”
“It’s been a long, expensive and difficult journey. We have to have houses for local people.”
