West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has called on the Government to ensure that local authorities have the right powers to protect homeowners from rogue housing developers.

Harriett met with Communities Secretary Michael Gove to discuss some of the challenges faced by people who have recently bought homes on sites where the developers have left before finishing their work.

Sub-standard building work and unfinished roads have blighted new housing developments and Harriett shared her concerns about a series of new developments across West Worcestershire.

Harriett said:

“I’ve had casework dating back over a decade where developers have finished building houses and sold them, but not finished off the roads and pavements around them, meaning that Worcestershire County Council aren’t able to take them over.

“It can be a serious blight on a new housing development and with more and more new homes being built I’m seeing increased numbers of cases of people who are unhappy with the people who built them.

“I recently met with the leadership at Malvern Hills District Council to find out if they have enough power to enforce action and I’ve taken that feedback into a meeting with Michael Gove.

“He has pledged to look into this issue and also follow up with some of the more egregious complaints that I brought to the meeting.

“There are many upsides to new house building but rogue developers have a negative impact on the whole industry. I hope that the Minister takes this local feedback on board and ensures that local authorities have the necessary powers to act.”

Photo: Communities Secretary Michael Gove with Harriett Baldwin MP.