Unfinished homes under threat as developer goes bust

The site in Somerset could be sold to another company – or may simply sit uncompleted

The future of an incomplete housing estate is uncertain after the developer called in administrators.

Stratton Land started work on 69 homes at Exmoor Gate estate in Minehead, Somerset, in 2020.

It is not clear how much more work there is to do but, according to Companies House, the developer called in administrators on 9 May – meaning completion could be significantly delayed or not achieved at all.

Administrators at Leeds-based PKF Littlejohn Advisory did not respond to requests regarding the future of the site.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Stratton Land, which is based in London and has an office in Tiverton, had experienced viability issues with the site.

In February, it was given permission from Somerset Council to reduce its £500,000 contribution towards a new community centre in Minehead.

It cited the unexpected cost of removing and storing topsoil from the development site.

Any new developer that takes over the site would have to honour any agreed financial obligations such as the reduced contribution of £175,614 for the community centre.

A spokesman for Somerset Council said: "We are working with all concerned parties to ensure the development moves forward."

Tiverton and Minehead MP Rachel Gilmour said she was saddened by the turn of events and called on the government to make it easier and more financially viable to provide affordable homes in rural areas.

"Providing truly affordable housing should be a clear priority in this current housing climate, and anyone exiting the market who would otherwise be providing that is a shame," she said.