West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has called on local planners to investigate strengthening their powers to ensure housing developers don’t leave roads at sites unfinished.

In her regular meeting with Malvern Hills District Council Leader Tom Wells the two discussed issues arising from housing developers failing to finish off sites and as a result preventing people being able to move into new homes.

Harriett raised her concerns about houses in the new housing development at the QinetiQ site which are empty because of a standoff between Worcestershire County Council and the housing developers.

This follows issues which have been experienced with the adoption of roads by the county council in Welland, and the ongoing impasse between Persimmon Homes and the county council about completing works in Malvern Vale over a decade after the homes were built.

Harriett said:

“I took a look at the former QinetiQ site and saw blocks of new homes that remain un-occupied because there is a standoff between with county council and the developer about finishing off works on roads.

“It is deeply disappointing to see this happen and I am have been contacted by angry constituents who are unable to move into these homes because of this unnecessary hold up.

“I’m told by the county council that it is working with the developer to sort these problems but this work is simply not happening quickly enough.

“I’m grateful for the input of the chief executive and leader of Malvern Hills District Council and have urged them to investigate what powers they have to fix this issue.  If they need additional powers I shall raise this with the Housing Secretary.

“I support any steps the council can take to enforce this and in the interim, I have urged the local authorities and the relevant developers to come up with a swift solution to allow people to move into these excellent new homes.”

Photo: Harriett Baldwin MP pictured at the uncompleted Thirlstane Road on the former QinetiQ site in Malvern.