A partially-built development of up to 40 flats in Cornwall will be demolished before it’s even completed. Work ceased at what was previously known as Trennick Villas in Truro over a year ago when contractor Midas went bust.

Lee Trewhela www.cornwalllive.com

After demolition started in 2021, the retirement living scheme, known as Lowarth Morbies, on Malpas Road was due to offer 40 “independent living one and two bedroom apartments within a community setting for people over the age of 55, available for rent and shared ownership”. Housing 21, the company behind the scheme, which overlooks the river at Malpas, says damp has got into the partially built homes meaning they will now have to come down.

Work stopped a year ago when building giant Midas went into administration. Thousands of people and businesses all over Cornwall may end up out of pocket after it was revealed that construction firm Midas left a whopping £22m debt behind after going bust.

A spokesperson for Housing 21 said: “Our development, Lowarth Morbies in Truro, has been severely delayed because the contractor we were working with went into administration. Works ceased and it has taken several months to work through the contractual position. Consequently, when work stopped, the site was open to elements which may have resulted in water ingress.”

The spokesperson added: “To ensure we have a quality building that provides much-needed and affordable accommodation for older people in this fantastic location, we have made the decision with our newly appointed contractor to take down previous works and build from foundations up.”

Due to the delays, the apartments are now expected to be completed in Spring 2025. The work was originally expected to be finished this year. Housing 21 says anyone who has expressed an interest in living at Lowarth Morbies is being kept informed of progress

The development will now have to start from scratch after water got into the partially built flats (Image: CornwallLive)

Residents of neighbouring Carew Pole Close have received letters from the demolition company, Demolition South West Ltd (DSW), informing them that the work will take place between May 9 and June 9, by order of Classic Builders. Nick Southall, contracts manager, says in the letter: “We will do our best to limit the amount of noise or disruption to you throughout our works.” Residents are asked to contact DSW’s office if they have any concerns during the demolition period.”

A neighbour of the development told CornwallLive: “At least something is actually happening. I’m sick of seeing it.” Another said online: “I live at the top of the hill past this site, it’s been derelict for a very long time. I will be really pleased if they do complete the development as it’s such a superb site for housing.”

The original Trennick Villas retirement home had been vacant for several years and was boarded up to stop people breaking in and causing damage. In August 2020, a large part of the building was extensively damaged in an all-night blaze which saw eight fire engines from Truro and surrounding towns called to the scene.

In 2018, Housing 21 announced plans to refurbish the site and, after several attempts, was granted planning permission for the apartment development. However, work came to a halt in March 2022 after Midas went bust the month before.

Is that £84,000 salary not enough? Details made public this week have revealed just how much money Jacob Rees-Mogg has made from presenting shows on GB News – and the bank-busting figure is causing outrage online.

Tom Head www.thelondoneconomic.com

How much money does Jacob Rees-Mogg make from GB News?

According to the financial documents, the MP for North Somerset is currently raking in £32,083 PER MONTH from the fledgling broadcaster. That makes his hourly rate a rather healthy £802, and puts him on course for extra annual earnings of roughly £385,000.

Rees-Mogg is a senior stalwart of the Conservative Party, and he’s become a divisive figure in British politics. Critics have accused him of ‘being out of touch with the public’, over comments he has made about dealing with the cost of living crisis.

Who’s paying Jacob Rees-Mogg £800 an hour?

Given that most of us can’t just stroll onto the set of GB News and spout whatever we like, his methods of building-up the bank balance certainly differ from ours. The channel itself is largely funded by a Dubai-based investment firm.

Local Elections 2023: Critics revel in Tory turmoil

With Mr. Rees-Mogg currently projected to lose his seat as an MP at next year’s General Election, perhaps it is rather astute of him to already have a Plan B in place. In fact, if his local council results are anything to go by this week, a career change could occur sooner rather than later.

The constituents of North Somerset and Bath shunned the Tories, who failed to make any significant gains in a stronghold territory. They retained 13 councillors out of a possible 50, with Labour and the Greens substantially increasing their number of local representatives.

Carol Vorderman has essentially done a ‘Reverse Rees-Mogg’ over the past few years, and the TV presenter-turned-political-activist was overjoyed with these results. She says that the Conservatives have been the architects of their own downfall.

“Looks like Jacob Rees Mogg won’t be around after the next General Election. The Nasty Conservative Party vote has TANKED. This is because they try to put us down by bullying, mocking, and stealing. Think again.” | Carol Vorderman

The local election bell has sounded

Cabinet ministers will be “looking nervously over their shoulders” after Labour and the Liberal Democrats made huge gains in the local elections, according to a Lib Dem source.

Archie Mitchell www.independent.co.uk

The Lib Dems scored a significant win in levelling-up secretary Michael Gove’s Surrey Heath constituency, taking control of the council from the Conservatives.

The party declared it a “Michael Portillo” moment, in reference to the former cabinet minister who lost his Enfield Southgate seat during the 1997 general election. Mr Portillo’s defeat was seen as a pivotal result and an indication that New Labour would win the election by a landslide.

And deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden’s Hertsmere constituency, where he has a 21,313 majority, also fell victim to Labour and the Lib Dems. The Conservatives lost control of the council for the first time since 1999, with Labour and the Lib Dems picking up 13 seats between them.

Other senior Tories who came under pressure included former prime minister Theresa May, whose constituency of Maidenhead in Berkshire is covered by Windsor and Maidenhead council, where the Conservatives suffered heavy losses.

The Liberal Democrats took control of the council for the first time in 16 years, gaining 13 seats while the Tories lost 16.

In chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s South West Surrey constituency, the Lib Dems gained five seats, Labour picked up two, and the Conservatives lost eight.

And in a further sign of trouble brewing in the so-called blue wall of solidly Tory-backing areas, the Conservatives lost eight seats in Bath and North East Somerset, where former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg is the local MP.

The Lib Dems claimed to be ahead on vote share in North East Somerset, with 39.5 per cent, compared with the Tories on 26.3 per cent.

Other top Tories who saw their party lose control of councils in their constituencies include former party chair Nadhim Zahawi and justice secretary Robert Buckland.

And the Lib Dems gained six seats while the Tories lost four in Elmbridge, which is in former deputy PM Dominic Raab’s constituency.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “Conservative MPs across the blue wall will be petrified at these results,” while a party source added: “Senior Conservative ministers are now looking nervously over their shoulders at the Lib Dems.”

Rishi Sunak came under pressure from senior Conservatives to deliver on his flagship pledges after his own party chair described the disastrous local election results as a “wake-up call”.

The prime minister was dealt a major blow in his first election test as the Tories lost dozens of councils to Labour and the Lib Dems, leading to comparisons with the dire days of the mid-1990s.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed the results mean Labour is on course for a majority government at the next general election.

The Conservatives lost more than 1,000 seats in total, exceeding even the most pessimistic forecasts for the party. And Labour is now the biggest party in local government, having gained more than 500 seats.