The Enterprise Minister has refused to be drawn into a public debate over why the building of a housing estate in the south of the island has stopped.
Tim Johnston was asked about the Meadows development near Janet’s Corner in Castletown, which was being built by Haven Homes, by Tm Glover.
Mr Glover said he visited the estate during the summer and found that “building has stopped there, there are a number of roads with Ironworks still up. The estate is not finished, and indeed, a number of the houses at the back of that estate have not even been started”.
He asked Mr Johnston to “give me an understanding of what is happening at The Meadows site and what is happening with Haven homes”?
However, the minister said he was “not in position to talk about a specific business”.
He added: “I think that will not be appropriate clearly that the honourable member has highlighted an issue. I’m also aware that officers have directly contacted you on that and given an explanation of as much as we know at this stage.
“My understanding is that there will there are contingencies in place. We shall hopefully see those that development continue, but I cannot comment any further on that at this stage.”
Financial Risk
Mr Glover said that that government should be letting homeowners who are making considerable financial investments “aware of what the situation is”.
He added: “I am told that a new contractor will be in place to finish off the estate in January of next year, to finish the 96 homes. Would that not have been a more helpful answer for the Minister to give?”
Mr Johnston again said he would not be drawn into the financial matters of Haven Homes.
But he did say: “If at some point they come forward to reach out to us and talk to about an issue, then that’s, that’s, that’s fine, and we will obviously have that conversation.
“That did not happen, so it is unfortunate that we are in that situation, as a member has alluded to, but as I say, it would be inappropriate to in this court to start discussing the financial situation of a particular business.
“But like I say, as he’s alluded to, and as I said in my original answer, there is a commitment there, and I think alternative plans are in place for that, for that to to for that development to continue.”
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