Row over electricity pole delays new Seend Cleeve homes

The pole has to be moved to allow the development to be finished

A row over the relocation of an electricity pole has led to a new housing scheme being delayed.

The White Horse Housing Association (WHHA) said the hold-up at its new site in Seend Cleeve had cost £75,000.

It said Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) had to move a wooden pole in order for the project to be completed but it had not done so.

SSEN said it was not to blame for the delay, adding: "We have been in touch with the customer throughout."

The pole is within 10m of the final house to be built in the development in Seend Cleeve, near Devizes

The development of ten homes near Devizes was scheduled to finish by the end of 2023 but cannot be completed until an electricity pole, which is within 10m of the final house to be built, is moved by SSEN.

Chief executive of WHHA, Steve Warran, said the power lines only need moving by about 10ft but "they are 11,000 volts and we need to have it done properly".

"We have paid £75,000 for the delayed work and been offered just £100 in compensation," Mr Warran said.

He said the land owner was happy to give SSEN access in order to move the pole.

"The fact that it has taken 18 months is a complete disgrace," said Mr Warran.

He added: "In October 2022 we paid SSEN £65,000 to do the work. We didn't receive any documents until June the following year.

"Twelve months after we paid the money they then told us we needed to pay another £11,000 because it had taken so long, which we had no choice but to pay."

White Horse Housing Association chief executive, Steve Warran, said delays had cost £75,000

In response, SSEN said it had needed more detail to move the work forward following the application made in July 2022.

A spokesperson said: "Once this was received, the application progressed in August 2022. Getting the required consents to further progress this application did take time; the speed at which third parties grant their consent is beyond SSEN's control.

"The time this took meant the initial quote had expired; a new one was issued in late 2023, reflecting the current cost of the works."

The work is scheduled to take place on 29 February.