North East MP calls for action on unfinished housing estates

Emma Foody MP has called on the Government to help homeowners left in incomplete housing estates and mounting costs

A North East MP has called for Government action over incomplete housing estates which leave some homeowners “not having the basics”.

Cramlington and Killingworth MP, Emma Foody, secured a debate at Westminster Hall on Tuesday over her and fellow MPs’ concerns about housing estates left incomplete by developers, including a lack of roads, pavements or functional street lighting.

Emma Foody MP said: “A home is not just the property we live in but the street we are on and the community we are a part of.

"For too many of my constituents, there are unacceptable delays in the delivery of even the most basic infrastructure. Residents who have worked hard, saved and bought their first home, their family home, or dream home, are left without adequate road surfaces, pavements, street lighting, pedestrian crossings and road markings.

“Too often people are left in limbo, passed from one organisation to the next with each one passing the buck while paying management fees and council tax yet not having the basics such as completed roads, pavements or communal facilities.”

Ms Foody went on to say one of her constituent’s street lights had not been turned on in five years, whereas another complained that the lack of a proper road on their estate had made the use of wheelchairs or bikes difficult.

The MP also stated that often local authorities are left to deal with complaints regarding such housing estates they have little power to resolve. Ms Foody also stated that councils were often left unable to adopt new roads into their care due to the poor quality of the work.

In response to the concerns raised, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP said: “We acknowledge that it is a problem, and I hope that they will take my assurances at face value when I say that we are working on solutions to it and will bring them forward in due course. We want to listen to the experiences of honourable members across the country—although this is a North East debate, the problem very much affects constituencies in all parts of England. As I say, we are committed to taking firm action to end the injustice of 'fleecehold' and better protect residential freeholders from those costs, and I look forward to bringing further information to the House to that end.”

Since the debate took place, Matthew Pennycook MP has been in touch with Ms Foody and other MPs to organise further talks about constituents’ experiences.

Speaking after the debate Emma Foody MP said “I am glad that the Minster has indicated that they are actively working on solutions to the issue of unadopted estates.

"I have already seen so many constituents from different estates across the constituency contacting me about a whole range of problems they have faced at no fault of their own and at huge personal cost. I welcome the opportunity to meet with the Minister and the Department to have further discussions on the impact on residents in Cramlington and Killingworth.”

Join our Northumberland WhatsApp community

Join our Northumberland WhatsApp community for all the latest news Northumberland news direct to your phone.

To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.

If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN