Unfinished homes are knocked down

APARTMENTS are being knocked down to make way for care homes, less than two years after work started to build them.

The homes in Dividy Road, Adderley Green, have been standing unfinished since the developer MDL (Stoke) went into administration in 2008.

Since then plans have been approved to build two care homes on the land.

Now some of the flats near the back of the site are being demolished, much to the bemusement of residents living nearby.

Anthony Brown, who lives off Bambury Street, Adderley Green, said he believed it was a waste of money to bulldoze the apartments.

The 65-year-old said: "Everyone has been talking about the demolition, which has been going on for the last few days because they can't believe it.

"These flats haven't even been lived in. It seems ridiculous to knock them down.

"My house overlooks the development and it is a bit of an eyesore. There's just a massive pile of timber now."

Reg Lamoby, aged 66, from Weston Coyney, was interested in buying one of the apartments when they were first put on the market.

He said: "We were thinking of downsizing so we had a look at those flats and they were really nice inside.

"In the end we decided to stay where we were, but I drive past most days and I noticed they had stopped building them. I just put it down to it being a recession.

"Then I drove past the other day and saw a JCB smashing them down.

"It wasn't an ideal location for flats, but it seems a shame and a waste of money."

Insolvency experts Begbies Traynor took over the project, which was originally planned as 96 flats, from MDL (Stoke) in 2008 and found a buyer, Berkeley Group Investments, last year.

John Kelly, of Begbies Traynor, in Birmingham, said: "We had difficulty finding a buyer willing to take the risk, but we did sell the site to a developer last year.

"The original concept was for a care home at the back of the site with the flats being offered for rent or sale, so it is surprising the flats are now being demolished."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's development management committee granted planning permission for two care homes, one 90-bed and another 60-bed, on the site next to the First bus depot in November.

Between 150 and 200 jobs will be created at the care homes, covering a range of posts from cleaners to care assistants.

The development is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Councillor John David, who represents the Berry Hill and Hanley East ward, said: "The flats at the back of the site have been knocked down to facilitate space for the care homes, but I believe the apartments at the front will be kept to provide accommodation for care home staff.

"I think the existing flats should be given a lick of paint."