Residents worried after developer goes into administration

A housing developer has gone into administration, leaving an estate it was working on unfinished.

JME Developments, based in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, owns the Little Stanion estate near Corby.

Residents say they are worried the estate might not be finished.

The administrator says she is developing a "plan for the way forward".

The estate has been under construction for more than a decade and some houses and the village hall have not been built yet.

JME Developments said in October it was hoping to finish the site in 2028, nearly eight years after construction should have been completed.

The developer was hoping that North Northamptonshire Council would waive sums it had agreed to pay back to the community for each home sold.

As first reported by the Northamptonshire Telegraph,, external the appointment of administrator Rachel Fowler to manage JME Developments' affairs followed a high-court application by the Alternative Bridging Corporation.

Ms Fowler told the BBC: "I am working with the JME team and secured lenders to assess the works required on site and develop a plan for the way forward.

"We are mindful of the residents already there and want to minimise the impact on them."

A petition to wind up the company was presented in March by Ballycommon Services, which said it was a creditor of JME Developments.

JME told residents it was dealing with the petition "in a professional manner".

The firm added: "It would be appreciated if all would refrain from unhelpful gossip in advance of the court process."

The Telegraph reported that a letter had been sent by residents to North Northamptonshire Council asking for a public meeting about the situation.

They are concerned about roads not being completed on the estate and a community centre that was promised but never built.

Jason Smithers, Conservative leader of the council, said: “We have been made aware of the news about JME Developments going into administration. This is disappointing news for all concerned.

“We are gathering information to fully understand the issues and will continue to monitor the situation.”

Follow Northamptonshire news on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830