Housing firm files for administration

Work at the housing project at Daniel Close in Lancing has been halted after Boutique Modern filed for administration

A building firm working on several housing projects across Sussex has filed to enter administration, leaving councils querying the future of the developments.

Boutique Modern, which specialises in modular homes, has ongoing housing projects in a number of areas including Lancing, St Leonards and Eastbourne.

FRP Advisory, which is supporting Boutique Modern, told the BBC that it has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators and is not in administration.

Adur District Council, Hastings Borough Council and Eastbourne Borough Council all have ongoing projects with the firm.

Adur District Council said that the ongoing project to build 16 council homes in Lancing was at "an advanced stage of construction" and were due to be completed within the next four months.

But it added that work had halted on two further projects in Lancing – nine homes at Daniel Close and seven homes at Gravelly Crescent.

"We are now considering what action needs to be taken to secure the completion of the developments at Daniel Close and Gravelly Crescent," the council said.

"Work has stopped at both sites and we're seeking to liaise with the new administrators to get more information about the projects."

Hastings Borough Council, which was working with Boutique Modern on a 16-home Bexhill Road development in St Leonards, said it was "waiting for further information about what happens next and how this impacts our plans for this site".

The firm was also the contractor on plans to build 100 new affordable homes at the former Victorian pump house site off Bedfordwell Road in Eastbourne.

Eastbourne Borough Council said that it remained "absolutely committed" to the scheme.

"We are working with our partners to ensure there will be no impact on the delivery of over 100 much needed new homes for our residents," a spokesperson for the council added.

"Accordingly, we remain confident that Bedfordwell Road will become a landmark development in the long and proud history of affordable housing in Eastbourne."

FRP Advisory said: "The notice of intention provides the business with a period of protection from creditor action to explore its strategic options to enable the continuity of projects as well as the preservation of value and jobs."

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