Council will "move swiftly" to secure housing site
Powys County Council will move swiftly to secure a building site in Newtown.
But only once it has received official notification that Port Talbot-based construction firm Jistcourt has officially gone into administration.
Rumours had been floating around Newtown all last week that the company contracted to build the flagship £3.5 million project at the Old Bowling Green on Back Lane, in the middle of Newtown, had gone bust.
At a meeting of PCC’s economy, residents, communities and governance scrutiny committee (ERCG) on Monday, head of housing and community development Nina Davies and portfolio holder for housing, Cllr James Evans (Conservative – Gwernyfed) were asked to update councillors on the situation by committee vice-chairman, Gareth Jones.
Mrs Davies said: “There’s not a lot that I can say at this stage, the council has still not received the formal notification from Jistcourt on their position, so it’s inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
“The council will fully brief all members on the housing development in Newtown as soon as we have confirmation.
“I understand that’s not a lot of detail but that’s where we are in the process.”
Cllr David Selby said: “I assume there is contingency action with securing the site? I assume you’re planning for the worst outcome rather than the best?
Mrs Davies replied: “Correct. Officers are putting together options. If and when we receive notification we will be moving very swiftly.”
Cllr Evans added: “When we have confirmation, if or not, there will be something put in the diary for all members for a full briefing on what’s gone on and you can ask questions there.”
The scheme in Newtown is of importance to PCC as it’s the first housing development built by the council in over 40 years.
It is central to PCC’s hopes of building 250 new homes in the county by 2023.
The report for the meeting said the building was supposed to completed by September 2020 and that over £695,000 has already been spent on the project.
A source told the Local Democracy Service, following the meeting, that none of this money had gone to Jistcourt.
In March, construction firm Dawnus went into administration leaving three school building projects for PCC in limbo.
Photo: Councillors and representatives of Kistcourt at the site just a couple of weeks ago
By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
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