Letter to Housing Minister

Richard Pearson
Stonebridge54b@hotmail.co.uk

Rt. Honourable Grant Shapps MP
Welwyn Hatfield Conservatives
Maynard House
The Common
Hatfield, AL10 0NF

5th April 2012

Dear Mr Shapps,

Social Housing Scheme ~ Stonebridge Park Estate, St Ann’s, Nottingham

I first wrote to you on 6th January 2012 in order to bring to your attention that funding for the Stonebridge Park Regeneration Scheme has stalled, and it seems unlikely there will be any further construction of social houses on Stonebridge before the end of 2013.

You did advise me that you would reply once your government department had looked into the points raised in my correspondence; however, I have not heard anything.

I have written twice to the HCA and they have not replied to my correspondence.

Nick Clegg announced £17m funding for Local Enterprise Partnerships in the autumn of 2011, of which Nottingham City Council may receive £4.5m, however, the Stonebridge Park scheme does not qualify under the criteria.

I am also advised that the Housing & Communities Agency have allocated all of its available 2012 funds to other local authorities, while giving a low priority to the Stonebridge Scheme.

All of the detailed plans for the construction of 50 new homes on Phase 2 of our Regeneration Scheme have been drawn up, the land in Limmen Gardens is prepared ready for construction works to take place, and planning permission is a formality. All that is required is government support to drive the Stonebridge Park Regeneration Scheme forward, and HCA funds to help kick start phases 2 – 4.

I enclose a Data DVD containing a file of the latest photographs of the construction works by house builder Lovell, and the recent videos of Stonebridge from January – April 2012. Additional photos & videos may be viewed on my website at: http://stonebridgeregeneration.blogspot.co.uk/

Construction work by Lovell is due for completion at the end of June, after which there may be redundancies as builders apprentices & contractors are laid off. It will also have an effect on the local economy has the supply of building materials for Stonebridge from Nottingham firms will come to a close.

I want to do all that I can to encourage dialogue between the government, HCA, and the developer Leicester Housing Association & Nottingham City Council to move the Stonebridge Park Regeneration Scheme forward.

Please can you do all that you can to provide additional funding for this stalled social housing scheme, and encourage the HCA to raise its priority level for Stonebridge Park so that kick start funding is made available in the near future.

Yours Sincerely

Richard Pearson

CC: Chris Leslie MP (Nottingham East)