Uncertainty surrounds the future of a luxury family housing development in Shrewsbury after the company behind the work fell into liquidation.
The development at the old New Street Nursery, off Copthorne Road, in Frankwell, was due to create 14 homes, garages, 28 car parking spaces and new vehicle and pedestrian access on the site formerly used to grow prize-winning plants for Britain in Bloom.
Planning permission was granted for the scheme in 2007, but according to the Companies House website – the official UK government register of UK companies – Mayfield Developments (Residential) LLP has fallen behind with registering its accounts and has gone into liquidation.
Councillor Peter Nutting said he believed the company had fallen into difficulties last year, possibly leaving behind a bill running into hundreds of thousands of pounds owed to the former Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. Some of the houses are believed to be half-built.
The company had a base at Countrywide House, on the Battlefield Enterprise Park, but is no longer using the premises.
The New Street site was the former £2.5 million council nursery which was replaced by a £300,000 glasshouse at the Weeping Cross depot which is fitted with the latest technology.
Councillor Jackie Brennand, chairman of the Shrewsbury in Bloom committee, said: “It was a fantastic site for housing and very close to the town centre. They were extremely nice houses they were going to build there, but it’s not a shock because in the present economic climate so many building firms are having great difficulty.
“I’m deeply saddened by it because it leaves the site open to vandalism and it’s a shame these houses are not coming onto the market. It’s a great pity and I hope this situation is sorted quickly.”
A spokeswoman for Shropshire Council said the site had been made secure, and confirmed planning permission had been granted to the developers.
No one from Mayfield Developments (Residential) LLP was available to comment when the Chronicle went to press.
By Charlotte Hester