Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

To date, this project has cost a small fortune and delivered nothing.
A Wiltshire Council press release states 'Proposals to provide around 350 new affordable homes in west Wiltshire have received Government backing, signalling a significant boost for the project.

Wiltshire Council’s case for £77m in investment through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme has been supported by the Housing Minister following a value for money review, meaning the final business case can now go to the government for approval.

If the contract is approved, the first phase of around 240 homes would be built in Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Melksham and Hilperton by Devizes-based Sarsen Housing Association with Persimmon Homes and Westbury Partnerships. Plans to build a further 100 homes would also progress with the backing of the PFI investment.

The housing PFI allows local authorities to work with private sector partners to build, improve and manage housing. It is administered in England by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which has been working with the Council in support of its bid.

This scheme is one of 13 that the government signalled continued support for, subject to a value for money review, in November last year.

The next step will see the council produce a final business case for the project, which must be signed off by the HCA, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Treasury.'

This scheme pre-dates Wiltshire Council and, at a guess, I would say it has been dragging its heels for about five years. If a brick ever gets laid in won't be before time and the cost to council tax payers will continue for, as I recall, thirty years.