At a meeting last night 4.2.25, Charlotte Prince from Wrekin Housing explained the problem that is holding up the completion of the 27 new homes on Whitchurch Road.

As most people know, a culvert was uncovered close to the junction of Mill Street and Whitchurch Road. The team working on the connection here in January discovered that they had not been given enough room in the road to do the necessary work. Getting the space they needed would involve a re-think of how traffic around the area was managed, for example traffic lights and road closures. These arrangements cannot be imposed overnight: agreements have to be reached and residents have to be given notice.

It is hoped that the new final phase of work to connect the electricity will start on 3 March, but it could possibly start a week later on 10 March. It will continue for 2 weeks. There will be road traffic management in place during this time. Residents affected will be informed by highways or SPEN on the management plan once finalised.

It is expected that there will be electricity to the site by 17 April 2025. There may be brief power outages for other residents while this is achieved.

Once electricity is on site, meters will be installed in the new homes. Hot water and central heating systems will need to be commissioned. Final checks of all the details (‘snagging’) itself will take two weeks.

Hand-over, if everything goes to plan, should be mid-May. At that point there will be no further delay: tenants can move in the same day.

The homes are completely ready except for electricity. As Tim Wilkes, Clerk of Works on the project confirms, rumours of condensation and black mould are unfounded and untrue. The homes are ready and waiting for occupation as soon as the power is connected. They will be worth the wait.

K Sieloff

clerk to Prees PC

***