The first occupiers were set to collect their keys to their new homes at Rolleston Drive – but the development now lies dormant with weeds growing and rubbish blowing around the site.
The much-lauded 131 property development has within weeks turned into a ‘ghost town’.
The last statement from a Jigsaw Homes spokesperson was to the Local Democracy Reporting Service where they said: “We are very disappointed to hear that ilke Homes has gone into administration.
“We were informed of this by the administrators on Friday afternoon, June 30, and we are now in talks with them to discuss and consider our options.”
All photographs courtesy of GEDLING EYE
The new development, was one of the largest modular schemes to be funded through the Affordable Homes Programme by the Government’s housing agency and were being manufactured for Jigsaw Homes, who were expected to eventually own and operate the scheme.
During Gedling Borough Council Full Council on July 12, Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth (Lab), portfolio holder for growth and regeneration, said:
“Rolleston Drive was due to provide 85 affordable homes. There are currently 605 live applications on the home search system, so the allocation of 85 properties would have seen the current numbers of households on the waiting list reduce by 14 per cent.
“There are individuals and families behind these figures whose hopes of moving into a new, permanent and secure home within the next few weeks have been dashed.”
At the same full council meeting Cllr Helen Greensmith (Con) questioned whether the council carried out any checks on the company before work started and Cllr Hollingsworth adding: “This was an arrangement between (housing association) Jigsaw Homes and ilke, funded substantially through Homes England.
“It was not an arrangement with Gedling Borough Council. We have no financial commitment or obligation.”
It’s a shame this had happened, but on the plus side, the problems with speeding cars and the inevitable increase in traffic from this development might give the councils time to get thus sorted properly; let’s hope?!