BUILDERS who were tasked to build council homes at Carter’s Quay but are set to go into administration bought the land for nearly £10m, the Bournemouth Echo has found. 

Buckinghamshire-based Inland Homes is poised to go into administration this week, leaving the future of 161 council-funded homes in Hamworthy unclear. 

The Echo has discovered Inland Homes paid £9.9m for the land in November 2021, meaning the land is expected to be in the hands of the administrators. 

However, a contract signed between BCP Council and Inland Partnerships Ltd (part of Inland Homes) means the council’s right to take possession of the land is secured. 

Bournemouth Echo: Contractors removing supplies on Friday morningContractors removing supplies on Friday morning (Image: Cllr Marcus Andrews)

Currently, the local authority has paid £15m to Inland Homes to complete work as part of the £43.5m project 

BCP Council has said the following work has been completed as of February 2023:  

  • Sea wall sheet piling and capping   
  • Retaining wall to Sydenham’s site boundary   
  • Piled Foundations to all four blocks installed, tested and cropped   
  • Drainage attenuation tanks and drainage below roadways   
  • Crane bases installed and tested 

A BCP spokesperson said: “A fee of £8.25million was paid to Inland Homes at the start of the project, which included payment for the land. 

Bournemouth Echo: Carter's Quay last weekCarter's Quay last week (Image: Daily Echo)

“In addition, £6.75 million pounds has been paid for work achieved on the project so far. Some of this has been paid to Inland Homes for non-construction works related to the project, including what's known as ‘design development’.” 

The contract, called a Sales Agreement, states that the developer was selling the completed building, rather than the development site. 

Read more: Carter's Quay site locked as Inland Homes to appoint administrators

Payment for construction by the council would be done in stages and once completed, payments will then be made as part of the transfer of ownership of the properties afterwards. 

Bournemouth Echo: Carter's Quay CGICarter's Quay CGI

“The council's right to take possession of the land is secured as part of the deal,” the spokesman added. 

Cllr Vikki Slade, leader of BCP Council, has said a “large amount of work” has been done behind the scenes to keep the project moving forward.” 

Read more: Future of Carter's Quay project uncertain after administrators called

Carter’s Quay will be discussed at an upcoming overview and scrutiny meeting held on Monday, October 9, where it will set out the next few phases of the scheme. 

Recommendations will then be presented to senior councillors “when a clear picture emerges of which option represents the best set of probable outcomes”.