Keighley MP Robbie Moore has used a parliamentary debate to call on Harron Homes to solve ongoing issues which are affecting residents of the High Banks development in Silsden. Harron Homes completed the housing development in 2020, but for the last two years residents have been chasing Harron Homes to properly finish many outstanding issues.
Of the 50 households on the site, over 30 have contacted Robbie Moore complaining about the standards of their home and the fact that the housing development remains unfinished. Issues range from unfinished road surfacing, surface drains being blocked, the sewage connection for the whole site not yet being connected to the mains with a tanker having to come in on a weekly basis, to snagging issues within some properties like cracked walls, plumping connections not being properly installed and garden areas on being landscaped properly. Mr Moore and local Councillor Rebecca Whitaker have met many residents from the development and are involved in putting pressure on the housing developer to sort these issues out.
Having visited the site several times, Robbie Moore met with Tony Lee, the Managing Director of Harron Homes back in October last year where Mr Moore presented Mr Lee with a dossier of outstanding snagging issues which he had received from residents. After the meeting Mr Lee promised to provide regular updates to residents and Mr Moore on progress to improve the site. However, no such regular updates have ben received.
Robbie Moore used Parliament’s first debate of 2022 to raise this matter. In a speech in Parliament, Mr Moore highlighted the failure of Harron Homes to properly manage completion the site, and called on the housing developer to urgently do the right thing and sort the road, the sewage connection and remaining snagging issues out. Mr Moore said that residents had been deeply led down by the Housing Developer and he called for a new auditing process to put pressure on developers to complete homes to the standards expected in a timely manner, or face financial penalties being imposed.
Speaking on required improvements to the development, Moore said; “The responsibility lies solely with the developer, Harron Homes. The snagging issues have to be resolved within a respectful timeframe, without the pandemic being used as an excuse, as I have heard from Harron Homes before.”
In the same debate, Parliament heard from Halifax MP Holly Lynch, who mentioned a similar housing development in her constituency where residents had been badly let down by the same developer Harron Homes. MPs Mark Eastwood and Jason McCartney who represent other West Yorkshire constituencies have also raised concerns in Parliament about Harron Homes developments.
After the debate, Housing Minister Eddie Hughes MP agreed to meet with Mr Moore to discuss these matters further.
Robbie Moore MP said: “Buying a house is the most important purchase someone will make; it should come with a sense of pride, not betrayal.
I have chased Harron Homes to sort out the long list of outstanding issues on multiple occasions and it is a disgrace that the developer continues to show complete contempt towards the many residents at High Banks in Silsden. It is disgraceful the site is not up to the standards they promised, and I will continue to do all I can to make sure they put this right. Housing developers should not be allowed to get away with running rough shod over people who purchase their homes in good faith. After raising this in Parliament, I will now meet with the Housing Minister to explore further measures which can be adopted to put more pressure on Harron Homes to sort matters out.”
Councillor Rebecca Whitaker said: “The residents on High Banks have been let down very badly by Harron Homes. I have visited and been in communication with many residents from this new estate and am appalled when I hear of their outstanding issues. Residents have paid good money for their homes and now feel abandoned by the developer. This clearly should not be happening.
I have raised this matter at all levels at Bradford Council. Other than an officer from Building Regulation who offered his help, I have received very little communication from anybody else. Those in charge at Bradford Council responsible for planning should take proactive action to ensure that the developers adhere to all conditions of planning and get these outstanding issues resolved as a matter of urgency. Residents have been extremely patient and they demand and deserve better.”
