Frustration over Persimmon Homes’ eight year delay for community centre
Gloucestershire villagers “feel abandoned” over housebuilder Persimmon Home’s delays in delivering a community centre which residents have so far been waiting eight years to be built.
Bishop’s Cleeve councillors have written to the company’s group chief executive Dean Finch to express their frustration as hundreds of homes at the Clevelands estate are missing out on the community facility which was promised.
Richard Stanley, who leads Tewkesbury Borough Council, along with fellow Cleeve West ward councillor Murray Stewart are calling for a clear timetable for a planning application for the building.
In the open letter, they describe the community centre as a “fundamental element” designed to support the growing community help foster social cohesion as the estate expanded.
“The trigger points for delivery were reached some seven to eight years ago,” the open letter from the Liberal Demorat councillors reads.
“Since that time, hundreds of households have made Cleevelands their home, yet the community continues to lack the very space that was intended to bring people together.
“This represents not just a delay in infrastructure, but years of missed opportunities for local groups, for families, and for the development of a strong and connected neighbourhood.”
They go on to say that it is “increasingly difficult to justify to residents why, after so many years, there is still no planning application submitted for the community building”.
Councillor Stanley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the community has “done everything possible” to engage with Persimmon and secure the community building.
“After eight years of waiting, residents understandably feel abandoned,” he said.
“What is especially disappointing is that this is a friendly, close-knit community that would have benefited enormously from having a shared space for activities and events. Instead, residents have had to spend years fighting for infrastructure that should have been delivered alongside the homes.”
The firm has apologised for the delays and say a planning application will be submitted in June.
A Persimmon Homes spokesperson said: “We apologise for the delay in submitting the plan for the community centre at our Cleevelands development in Bishops Cleeve.
“The layout is currently being updated following receipt of drainage scheme, and we will be submitting the application to Tewkesbury Borough Council in June.
“We will work with the council to ensure the application, and ultimately the construction of the community building, is completed as soon as possible.”