Owl’s understanding of the debate yesterday is that no Tory MPs backed the Labour motion but 35 did back a critical amendment. Who were they?

George Grylls www.thetimes.co.uk 

Conservative MPs have accused the government of incompetence in its handling of the cladding crisis that has left millions of leaseholders trapped in unsafe homes.

Ministers promised yesterday to bring forward a solution “very shortly” but warned that there would be “no quick fix” after Labour forced a debate on the issue.

In total 35 Conservative backbenchers have backed an amendment tabled by Royston Smith, the Tory MP for Southampton Itchen, and Stephen McPartland, the Tory MP for Stevenage, that would exempt leaseholders from the costs of removing unsafe cladding from blocks of flats. They need 44 signatures to overturn the government’s working majority.

Christopher Pincher, a housing minister, represented the government in yesterday’s debate after Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, was criticised for refusing to appear in the Commons. Pincher said it was “wrong and unjust” for leaseholders to bear the costs of fixing historic safety defects and he denounced building owners who had passed on remediation costs to leaseholders.

“There is no quick fix,” he said. “If there was, we would have done it long ago. It is complex. It involves many parties: leaseholders with different leases, developers, warranty holders, the insurance industry, mortgage lenders. We will be making a further announcement on this important work very shortly.”

The government has so far committed £1.6 billion to remove dangerous cladding from tower blocks more than 18m tall. MPs say that total costs could rise to £15 billion when all high-rise buildings are taken into account.

McPartland said he would not accept any solution that involved leaseholders taking on loans and he criticised ministers for their handling of the issue. “The government has been incompetent throughout this saga,” he said. “They’ve created a whole host of these problems.”

Smith said that ministers were not to blame but urged them to accept his amendment. “This government can give leaseholders the certainty and security which they deserve and let the unwitting victims of this crisis once again sleep soundly in their beds at night,” he said.

In the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy banks refused to issue mortgages on blocks of flats that were covered in cladding unless residents could obtain forms declaring the properties safe. Unable to sell their homes, leaseholders have been forced to pay for nightly patrols by fire wardens as well as sharply rising insurance costs.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, visited residents of an affected tower block in Woolwich, southeast London, before the debate, in which his party called on the government to establish a national cladding taskforce.

One in six properties, housing up to 11 million people, could be affected by the scandal, according to analysis released by the New Build Database.

Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow housing secretary, said: “Buying your first home is a life-defining moment but for so many what was a dream come true has become a nightmare. We need a solution to this crisis that fixes buildings and ensures that those responsible pay.”

How often have we heard this refrain? Owl will wait to “see the colour of the money” and how much of it is “re-announcement”, but it looks to be directed to infrastructure to support the green industrial revolution in the “South West”, which of course includes Swindon and Bristol and….. 

From yesterday’s Wester Morning News:

Boris Johnson’s commitment to bring “massive investment” to the South West has been seized upon by campaigners who have pledged to hold the Prime Minister to his word.

Mr Johnson made the promise, last week, confirming earlier commitments to the region, in an answer to a question from South West Devon Conservative MP Sir Gary Streeter.

The PM told the region’s most senior Tory he “can be assured that we will be giving mass­ive investment in infrastructure to support the green industrial revolution in the South West…”

The decision to stage the G7 Summit of world leaders in Cornwall in June is seen as a reflection of the Westcountry’s leading role in green energy and environmentally-friendly technology.

Now business leaders behind the Back the Great South West campaign, championed by the Western Morning News, are looking ahead to the March Budget and calling for the tourism industry – hard-hit by coronavirus and lockdown – to get more support.

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Our big ask from March’s budget is specific support for the tourism sector.”

Susan Davy, boss of South West Water owners Pennon Group, said it was vital the region spoke “with one voice” to win the backing it needs.

Coronavirus infection rates in Devon are now the lowest in England, latest figures have revealed.

Good news but we mustn’t drop our guard in East Devon – Owl

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

The latest seven day rolling average for Covid-19 infection rates shows that the Devon County Council area now has England’s lowest infection rate at 84.4/100,000.

The figures, based on specimens from January 21-27, also show that at a lower tier authority level, the five places in England with the lowest infection rates are all in Devon.

Latest coronavirus rates for Devon

Torridge (43.9/100,000) has England’s lowest infection rate, with North Devon (49.4/100,000) second, Exeter (78.4/100,000) third, South Hams (90.8/100,000) fourth and East Devon (91.6/100,000) with the fifth lowest.

Teignbridge (98.4/100,000) sits seventh lowest, with West Devon (104/100,000) ninth and Mid Devon (113/100,000) in eleventh of the 315 English local authority areas.

But Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, said that while cases of COVID-19 are now falling in Devon, case numbers are still much higher than they were for large parts of last year

He said: “It looks like the current restrictions are having a positive impact and we are starting to see cases come down.

“While clearly it’s good news cases are coming down, they are still higher than in November and December, so now is not the time to drop our guard, so please stay at home and stick to the rules.”

Devon’s infection rate of 84.4/100,000 is the lowest since December 15, 2020, with cases for the two week period prior to that having been at a lower level.

Cases rates still remain highest in the over 90s age group, followed by the 30-39 year-olds, with the lowest infection rates in Devon in the 70-79 year-olds and those 0-14.

So Burrington Estates purchased Sky Park last year? – Ops Owl missed that!

Howard Lloyd www.devonlive.com

Planning permission has been approved for 35 business units to be built at Exeter’s growing SkyPark.

Exeter-headquartered Burrington Estates purchased the site at SkyPark in 2020 with a commitment to deliver high quality new business units in Exeter.

The units will be built to the BREEAM “excellent” benchmark and provide flexible space of from 1,000sq ft with the option of half- or full-mezzanine floor.

Providing new employment opportunities in the area, construction of the units is due to commence in February 2021 with completion anticipated in August 2021.

Burrington Estates commercial managing director Matthew Bennett said: “We are delighted to get the go ahead for this development allowing us to provide superior options for start-ups and small to medium businesses looking to expand.

“We are also proud that Burrington has a presence at SkyPark, the flagship business park development in the South West.”

How a cafe building at Burrington Estates’ Exeter SkyPark development could look

In line with SkyPark’s highly sustainable aims, particularly with using renewable energy and energy efficiency goals, Burrington Estates will include solar PV and EV charging points, insulated panel technology to reduce operational costs and covered bicycle storage to encourage sustainable transport. The development also includes a café unit, available for purchase or lease.

With what Burrington Estates called “an impressive show of positivity and optimism from the business community”, 90% of the units have already been reserved. Two further phases of varying unit sizes are set for delivery in 2022.

Skypark has been dubbed Exeter’s new generation of business park

Development manager Charles Berry, who took the lead on the project, said: “To attract such a strong demand from SMEs for the business units underlines the need for this type of high-specification, sustainable development in the South West.

“Alongside superb quality, businesses are clearly also looking for premises that focus on sustainability and flexibility.”

Spanning more than 100 acres, Skypark has been dubbed Exeter’s new generation of business park, combining industrial, office, and distribution space.

SkyPark is sited close to the M5 and neighbouring businesses include Lidl distribution centre, DPD, Amazon, LiveWest, ASOC and Exeter Airport.

SkyPark is part of Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone providing business rate relief for new and growing businesses, worth up to £55,000 per business year for five years.

SkyPark is being developed by Burrington Estates Limited which is at the forefront of high-quality new developments in the West Country and beyond.

Meanwhile Burrington Estates has begun to modernise Plymouth’s Eurotech Park business estate with large-scale demolition already underway.

The company, which acquired the vast building in Burrington Way, Honicknowle, in late 2019 is planning to transform the former 1970s electronics factory block and replace it with 30 modern industrial business units.

The project was due to start in early 2020 but was, like many things, severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and Government guidelines.

But the scheme is very much continuing with the last tenants of the old building leaving in November 2020 and demolition work now well advanced.

Owl understands from correspondents that this is perceived as an increasing problem in parts of the Exe and in the Otter estuaries. Paddleboarding has taken off as a new leisure and water sports activity and the estuaries are attractive in providing calm water.

Owl also hears that there are “educational” notices posted along the Lower Otter, but no bye laws restrict such disturbance.

It is an example of the increasing conflict between the leisure needs of an increasing population and sensitive and protected landscapes. The Pebblebed Heaths are sensitive just to footfall. Owl was surprised, therefore, to find planning permission granted for more holiday “lodges” at Woodbury Park Golf Centre just metres outside the 400 supposed development exclusion zone.

From the print edition of Saturday’s Times:

The rise in popularity of kayaking and paddleboarding is damaging important bird habitats, conservationists warn.

Remote parts of harbours and estuaries that were once rarely explored by people are now being visited, with native sea birds driven away from feeding and breeding grounds.

Novice paddlers are being alerted to the effect they can have on wildlife habitats. Poole Harbour in Dorset — an area of international importance for wildlife conservation — has been badly affected. It has three nature reserves run by the RSPB, National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust on one side and watersports businesses on the other.

One owner said that demand for paddleboards and kayaks had soared since the first lockdown ended last year.

Peter Robertson, senior site manager of the RSPB’s Dorset reserves, said: “Sandwich terns, Mediterranean gulls and little egrets have breeding populations in the harbour and need undisturbed space to feed and breed.”

The charity Birds of Poole Harbour has tweeted a picture of a paddleboarder nearing a mudflat. It said: “15 mins before this paddleboarder arrived there were 306 avocet, 104 curlew & 88 oystercatcher on this mudflat.”

Luke Johns, Poole Harbour nature reserves officer for Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “While we are sure that the majority of water users wouldn’t want to adversely affect wildlife, we anticipate another difficult year with this.”

He added that one problem area was Brownsea Island. “It takes some physical effort to get there, so numerous people rest on our shoreline, where there is no permitted landing.

“They disturb nesting birds … some clutches of eggs or chicks have undoubtedly been lost.”

On the Isle of Wight, the Newton National Nature Reserve has also been affected. Robin Lang, of the National Trust, said: “When birds see a human figure on a paddleboard coming towards them, they see that as a threat and take flight in great number.”

The story behind Sunday’s post.

Charlotte Vowles www.devonlive.com

Devon’s care workers should be recognised now for their vital contribution during the coronavirus pandemic by being better valued and rewarded, according to Devon County Council.

There are currently approximately 1,500 permanent care vacancies in Devon and many additional temporary vacancies due to Covid-19. And more care workers are needed to provide care to older people, disabled people or those with mental health needs.

Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services, said that unless the Government pledges more money to increase wages and improve training and development opportunities, care staff will continue to be under-valued and Devon’s capacity to sustain vital care services will be put at risk.

He’s tasking the council to help build a case, working with providers and other partners, to put to central government for more resources to better reward social care workers

Cllr Leadbetter said: “I believe care workers deserve better pay and conditions. Covid-19 has laid bare, for all to see, the vital role care workers play in safeguarding vulnerable people. It’s opened the public’s eyes, and we all owe them a huge debt.

“Social care work should be regarded as being on a par with the NHS, but it’s not. And like our NHS colleagues, care workers have never been under so much pressure.

“They are doing more than ever before, and until they are paid more, and further investment in training and development is committed, care work will always be considered the poor relation. And to me, this is unacceptable.”

His comments come after the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) called last week for the Government to invest more in social care.

They have also proposed a national minimum care wage and asked for an additional £480m in England in the short-term.

Cllr Leadbetter said this money is vital if, as expected, the social care sector is asked to work even harder to support those discharged from hospital.

“We need funding now to enable care providers to recruit extra skilled care workers during the pandemic,” he said.

“In the long term addressing social care funding is key to our recovery from Covid. Without sufficient, high-quality social care, we will not only fail those in need but fail a generation of families who will not be able to maintain their working lives. And that will affect us all economically.”