A major housing development site could be left as an ‘eyesore’ after talks between landowners broke down.
Persimmon Homes, which is building 400 properties at Home Farm, Cranfield, is in dispute with Denison Investment Limited over a proposed development of the land there.
Under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act developers have to provide a certain amount of facilities for the local community.
Persimmon Homes intended to build such facilities including a community hall on adjacent land owned by Denison but Bedfordshire on Sunday understands that there has been no agreement between the two parties and that talks broke down in February.
In May we reported how Central Bedfordshire Council had instructed Persimmon to stop work until it adhered to planning conditions involving trucks going through the village.
It is believed that foundations have been constructed and there are fears that the site will not be completed.
Jeff Streule from Denison has said that the two companies are in dispute and in a document submitted by the company to its stakeholders it says that ‘there is no dialogue or agreement whatsoever between the two companies.’
Steven Hird, managing director for Persimmon Homes Midlands, said: “We and Denison are both contractually obliged to provide the section 106 package for the benefit of the local community.
“We are therefore in discussion with the local authority on how best to deliver these elements of the build programme.” Cranfield Parish councillor Laurence Pollock, said: “I’m calling on Persimmon to resolve its dispute with landowners so that the development can be completed as soon as possible.
“Local people want the site built and promised vital facilities such as the community hall ready for use. At present it is just an eyesore.
“These land access issues should have been settled a long time ago.” A spokeswoman for Central Beds Council: “We are aware that both Persimmon Homes and Denison Investments have land interests in the development approved on Lodge Road, Cranfield.
“We further understand that a proportion of the community benefits secured through the section 106 legal agreement are due to be included on land owned by Denison.”
