Social housing delay leaves ghost estate

The estate was built amid a shortage of affordable housing

An affordable homes estate remains empty six months after it was officially opened.

No-one has been able to move into the eight social housing homes in St Ann's Chapel, near Kingsbridge, in Devon because of "issues" with a contractor, says the local council.

Kathy Hutchings, who was hoping to be in by last Christmas with her daughter, said she was "living in limbo, just stuck".

South Hams District Council (SHDC), which held an opening ceremony in November, said it was hoping to get the new tenants in "soon".

Kathy Hutchings had been hoping to be in by last Christmas

The development of new affordable homes called Holywell Meadow got an official launch on 23 November by the council, which gave some of the prospective tenants the opportunity to view the homes.

"For the first time in a generation, we have built our own affordable homes which will help tackle the district’s housing crisis," said the local authority at the time.

Among those looking around the estate were Ms Hutchings and her daughter, who work in a local cafe.

But the pair are still commuting from Cornwall.

The houses remain empty six months after an official opening

Getting on the shortlist for the houses had been a "dream come true", said Ms Hutchings.

She said: "This was our prayers answered.

"It was the best Christmas present ever, because we thought we would be in by Christmas."

She said the delay had been "very stressful".

"You feel like you're living in limbo, just stuck.

"And it's not just us. There are eight families all waiting, who were like us, packed, ready to go at Christmas.

“You have to just trust that it will happen eventually," she said.

The council said it was trying to get people in as soon as possible

Parish councillor Val Scott said she was "very disappointed”.

"It has kept getting delayed," she said.

"First it would be ready in June or July, and that went on and on and on.

"We just want it all to be sorted as quickly as possible so that people like Kathy and those other people who have been waiting to get in as soon as possible."

South Hams District Council declared a housing crisis in 2021

The council declared a housing crisis in 2021 because of the lack of affordable homes for local people.

House prices in the district were above the England and Wales average at £385,000 in 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics, while wages lagged behind the average.

At the opening in November, SHDC described building its own affordable homes on land provided by a local farmer as a "generation first".

Councillor Denise O’Callaghan, executive member for housing at South Hams District Council, said on Thursday that the council had "agreed a way forward with the contractor for them to rectify the problems with the road construction, which has been holding up the completion of the project".

She said: "We sympathise with our future tenants over the delay that this issue has caused and look forward to seeing them living in these lovely houses soon."