The housing private finance initiative in Leeds is in danger of missing the March deadline for signing contracts after the preferred bidder accused the council of dragging its feet.
Yorkshire Housing Group, part of the Yorkshire Transformations consortium named preferred bidder for the round-one contract last September, said negotiations with the council had stalled.

The two parties are negotiating over the final price of the scheme, in the Swarcliffe area, likely to be in the region of £200m. It will include the refurbishment of 1600 homes and the demolition of 600 homes.

Roy Wallington, director of Yorkshire Housing Group, said: "I want to start the service, I want customers to benefit, but I've been in no man's land for four months. We are concerned about achieving final close by Easter because of continuing concerns from the council about affordability. We are working to address these concerns but it's taking a long time."

Neil Evans, the council's director of neighbourhood and housing, said: "A PFI project is a complex negotiating process and there are always contentious issues to overcome. We have to work together to iron out any outstanding issues.

"We know the consortium is committed to doing this and as a result we are confident we will meet the March deadlines."

Source

Housing Today