A DEVELOPER is facing demands to pay half-a-million pounds owed to Redditch Council before starting work on a massive new estate.

Persimmon Homes has submitted an outline application for 960 homes, including full permission 128 dwellings, in Brockhill East but the town's MP says the company still owes £521,000 to the borough council.

The money is due as a condition of previous planning permissions to pay for public amenities and is referred to as Section 106 money.

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “Persimmon has unfinished business here in Redditch. As I’ve said before, the borough council stands ready to work with Persimmon to resolve these ongoing issues. I’d urge Persimmon to get around the table and work constructively with the Borough Council.

“We need to see these longstanding issues with Persimmon resolved first before they look at building even more homes in our town.”

Persimmon is also accused of failing to hand over areas of previous development, including pathways, to the council for maintenance amid complaints these areas are now suffering neglect.

A spokesman from Persimmon Homes North Midlands said: “Upon review of our records, it would appear there is a difference in understanding between ourselves and the local authority regarding payments that have been made. Our records on adopted areas do not reconcile with the council’s records.

“We are fully committed to resolving the legal matters associated with the adoptions at the Brockhill development and appreciate the frustrations felt by residents.

“We are keen to have an all-party meeting at the earliest convenience to review payments and hopefully bring this matter to a conclusion.”

The row over the unpaid cash boiled over in January when Mrs Maclean, along with borough councillors Brandon Clayton and Gemma Monaco, and then council candidate Nyear Nazir, won an assurance from Persimmon interim chief executive David Jenkinson to personally investigate the issue.

In March Mrs Maclean revealed Liam Scott, Persimmon's regional managing director had written to her to say he was seeking a meeting with the council to agree an action plan.

Speaking at the time she said: “I appreciate Mr Scott’s response, but numerous meetings have already been held and we still find ourselves in this situation where not all assets have been handed to the local council."

However hopes for a solution have so far been in vain as Persimmon is yet to hand over the spaces which would trigger the requirement to pay the money.

Cllr Clayton said: "Why they haven't paid up by now I don't know, they say personnel keep changing but that's not our problem. They should have sorted it out by now."