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Protests at Old Gaol homes deal
RESIDENTS are protesting that Old Gaol developer Cranbourne Homes is using homes it is already building in Abingdon as part of the Old Gaol deal on affordable homes.
Cranbourne Homes was given permission last June to build 14 houses on the site of Abingdon's old ambulance station in Springfield Drive.
Those houses were destined to be sold on the open market - but now the company has instead designated ten of them as part of its commitment to affordable homes in the Old Gaol development deal struck in January with the Vale of White Horse District Council.
Under the Old Gaol plans, 14 more affordable homes will be built in Harcourt Way to complete the required amount.
Residents complained the move was unfair on other building companies that put in bids to develop the Old Gaol site in Bridge Street.
Joyce Battersby, 66, of St Mary's Green, wrote to the Vale of White Horse Council to put her concerns.
She said: "I think it was very wrong of the council to have given Cranbourne Homes the contract for development of the Old Gaol site in Abingdon on the premise that they will build affordable homes in Harcourt Way and on the former ambulance station site.
"It is surely misrepresentation to state this was a deciding factor in granting them the contract when in fact the affordable homes on the ambulance station site are well on their way to completion.
"The council states that Cranbourne's scheme had the most to offer, in part because of this provision of affordable houses - how can this be so when half of these are nearly built?"
She criticised the plans for not including leisure facilities badly needed in the town.
Michael Howells, 42, who lives in Ock Street, said: "I think it's ridiculous to say that this housing is part of a new construction or a new offer when they are already building the affordable houses."
Shaun Dominic, who owns Cranbourne Homes with his father, said: "We got planning permission to demolish the former ambulance station and build 14 houses, which we would have sold on the open market, but because we won the Old Gaol bid, then we agreed that ten would be affordable housing.
"There is nothing hidden about it. Had we not got the Old Gaol, we would have put them on the open market."
Nikki Malin, a spokesman for the district council, said: "The ambulance station site was bought by Cranbourne with the intention of developing houses which were going to be sold on the open market. Under the local legislation, with any development of 15 or more homes, developers are required to provide 40 per cent of homes as affordable housing. Cranbourne has agreed with us that ten of the houses will be affordable. As far as we are concerned, this is good news as, basically, it means that there are going to be ten affordable homes which would have been on the open market."
Action group Community in the Old Gaol (Cog) has vowed to fight on for cultural facilities. The group was bitterly disappointed when it emerged that plans for the Old Gaol included 61 homes alongside a mixture of shops and restaurants.
Cog chairman Glynne Butt said: "Cog has not given up. We are still here and we are still pressing for cultural facilities, if not in the Old Gaol but somewhere else in Abingdon."
The council has said that money received from the sale of the Old Gaol would be invested for three years and then it would look at what community facilities were needed.
10:00am Tuesday 11th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Duce, Abingdon on 1:40pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Cranborne homes are only out for what they can get they dont care what you think I know them from old dominics dont own cranbourne homes dont care what you think its just money grabbing.
Cranborne homes are only out for what they can get they dont care what you think I know them from old dominics dont own cranbourne homes dont care what you think its just money grabbing.
Posted by: Arthur, South Abingdon on 9:26pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Cranbourne are like any other building firm. You cant blame them, they just want to make money. Just like any other business. Its the council Wallers that are too blame. Building Companies must be falling over themselves to try and work with such Thick, Dumb and Stupid individuals. So when the Houses are built and the traffic is building up past the European School, what are you residents going to do............NOTHIN
G, THATS WHAT, NOTHING. You never have and you never will. You just let a bunch of Pikey's and Tractor boys and girls run your council. Look you have a lovely river and scenery, but bugger me, the traffic is so bad that no one comes anymore........... enter the tumble weed......
Cranbourne are like any other building firm. You cant blame them, they just want to make money. Just like any other business. Its the council Wallers that are too blame. Building Companies must be falling over themselves to try and work with such Thick, Dumb and Stupid individuals. So when the Houses are built and the traffic is building up past the European School, what are you residents going to do............NOTHIN
G, THATS WHAT, NOTHING. You never have and you never will. You just let a bunch of Pikey's and Tractor boys and girls run your council. Look you have a lovely river and scenery, but bugger me, the traffic is so bad that no one comes anymore........... enter the tumble weed......
Posted by: Abingdon Resident, Abingdon on 9:13am Wed 12 Mar 08
With the Budget coming up, what are the councils going to cut next??, Is there any provision for the Bridge Project in all of this development. Can any money be redirected to them at all?.
With the Budget coming up, what are the councils going to cut next??, Is there any provision for the Bridge Project in all of this development. Can any money be redirected to them at all?.
Posted by: Neil, Abingdon on 2:49pm Wed 12 Mar 08
I don't understand the problem here.
The Council did a deal that as part of the Old Gaol development Cranbourne would provide extra affordable homes.
That is exactly what they are doing.
I don't understand the problem here.
The Council did a deal that as part of the Old Gaol development Cranbourne would provide extra affordable homes.
That is exactly what they are doing.
Posted by: Markus louch, Abingdon on 4:23am Thu 13 Mar 08
Why are we protesting against which company has the housing contract when the real issue is that the vast majority of the residence of Abingdon don't back the plans in the first place.
Head.....brick-wall.
Why are we protesting against which company has the housing contract when the real issue is that the vast majority of the residence of Abingdon don't back the plans in the first place.
Head.....brick-wall.
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