Work on Sovereign Housing Association’s 24 new affordable homes in Shalfleet was brought to a halt during the coronavirus lockdown, but things still aren’t back on track and residents are still not in their homes – despite promises of completion in September.
Construction at Shalfleet Meadows was stopped during lockdown, setting the completion of the site back by a few months. Families were given a possible move in date of September, but are now being told it could be December before they are finally in.
None of the families have been able to move into their new homes yet. Potential residents are being given weekly updates by a member of staff responsible for the sales at Hose-Rhodes Dickson. This weeks update states that nobody will be able to move in before December at the earliest.
An Island Echo reader has said:
“It is said that a footpath must be installed to the bus stop on the main road, this should have been outlined when planning permission was given, however, Sovereign and Island Roads have yet to sign the contract for the work to be completed. It seems this contract is bouncing back and forward between two legal departments with no resolution.”
James Gibson, Development Director for Sovereign has told Island Echo:
“The date for our residents to move into their quality new homes at Shalfleet Meadows was pushed back due to the Covid 19 lockdown. The final stage of our development is ensuring safe access to homes, and we’re working hard to make sure that residents can move in as swiftly and safely as possible.
“We’re aware that delays are frustrating, but as so many businesses have experienced, delays due to lockdown have been unavoidable. We’re aware that our homes at Shalfleet Meadows have proved very popular and we are doing all we can to move people in as soon as we can.”
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This article is rubbish. No the people moving to these properties have not been kept updated weekly. I personally know 2 families and it’s been a nightmare for both parties. Even at one stage they promised too many families a property but run out of houses! The last update that the poor girl had to chase for was to hand notice in with existing landlord for November.
Those getting them on the cheap or free are lucky to get a new home at all.
Most working people cannot get a new home ever, so quit your whinging and be grateful you are being subsidised as likely all your children are, by others paying full wack for everything they had to slowly obtain over many years.
The world doesn’t anyone a home or a living.
Why would you assume these are not working people?
What makes you an expert and no they are not cheap some are shared ownership which means a mortgage plus rent.
they have the look and feel of a council estate and given enough time .all will be owned by a housing association and filled with dross from around the country. No one is going to buy a house, when their neighbours are getting the carbon copy, exact same spec house for nothing, with the government paying their rent.
Why does everything have to say people are ‘angered’ or ‘angry’. What ever happened to ‘upset’ or ‘annoyed’.
It’s because such words as angry are more evocative. Journalists do this because it’s about controlling your emotive response to things.
Every sympathy for the people being messed about but they should never have built there in the first place
Ryde Village are in the same boat, were promised to move in March / April. Still no dates. Lock down was only two months yet the paper work has not yet been done. Too many questions unanswered. Absolute joke. The buildings are all ready just needs someone to do their job and the paper work. As with Shalfeet, over 55’s who are paying cash! No free lunches here. I know island residents who have purchased these and been left high and dry stuck wasting money in rented accommodation.
Anything to do with the council or even housing is a disgrace at the moment. The people of the island deserve much better.
how long does it take to lay a footpath