Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

One of only two bidders has withdrawn.
West Wiltshire Homes Partnership, a joint venture between West Wiltshire Housing Society and Jephson Homes Housing Association, has announced that it intends to bid for a Housing Corporation grant to build homes on the land it has put together for the PFI scheme.

WWDC is extremely disappointed by their decision to withdraw at this late stage in the project and has advised the government of the situation and requested a meeting to put forward a case for continuing as a single bidder scheme.

The remaining bidder is SPB Homes, a consortium of Sarsen Housing Association, Persimmon Homes and Barclays.

I find it odd that, on one hand, Persimmon are complaining to WWDC that they can't afford to build ANY affordable homes at their planned 650 house East of Trowbridge development (they would normally be expected to provide 30% (195) affordable units) whilst, on the other hand, they're prepared to be part of a consortium to supply 200 sites for affordable homes under the PFI scheme.

There again, perhaps I'm becoming too cynical ...