Flat owner feels 'helpless' at cladding work delay

Owners of flats in a development where fire safety work is required on cladding have been told it is not expected to be completed until 2029.

Remediation is needed on parts of the Vizion complex in Milton Keynes to meet regulations introduced after the Grenfell Tower fire.

Joe Wong, who owns a two-bedroom apartment with his wife, said he had been left feeling "hopeless" and is facing high insurance costs while being unable to sell his property.

Developer Barratt Redrow, responsible for the remediation, apologised and said it was committed to completing work "as quickly as possible".

The development of more than 400 flats comprises 18 buildings, 12 of which need remediation work.

Barratt Redrow are responsible under a contract signed in 2023.

Mr Wong, 74, owns a flat in the Moonstone House part of Vizion, but the block flooded in September 2024 and he has been provided temporary accommodation in a serviced apartment.

He said he would like to sell his flat but "it is not possible" because prospective buyers find it difficult to get a mortgage before work is completed.

In the meantime, he said higher insurance costs have pushed up service charges to £8,000 a year.

"It is a hopeless situation," he said.

"Everybody feels very depressed and [feels] anxiety. You don't know what will happen tomorrow."

Ann Savell and her husband purchased a flat from their son 15 years ago to fund her retirement.

She now rents the apartment out, but said the higher service charges means her income just covers costs.

Mrs Savell, 64, chairs the Vizion MK residents' association and said she was "really really shocked" when told work was not expected to be completed until 2029.

"We were so so dismayed because we were promised the work, after five years of hell with [Barratt], would start this summer.

"We don't believe anything they say anymore, every deadline is pushed back," she added.

Barratt Redrow said work on parts of the development over 18m (60ft) tall requires approval from the Building Safety Regulator, with contractors expected to start on lower-rise blocks in May 2026 while approval is sought for the higher buildings.

A spokesperson said: "We appreciate how difficult this is for residents and can only apologise that the remediation process has taken so long to date.

"Vizion is a large and complex development, and we have been working hard to progress matters as quickly as possible.

"While the remediation programme across all 12 buildings is expected to last approximately three years in total, completion will be phased with the first buildings completing in 2027."

Y&Y Management is responsible for the service charges at the complex.

A spokesperson said: "Service charges at Vizion were recently reviewed in detail by the independent First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), which confirmed that the charges in dispute were reasonable, properly incurred, and fully payable.

"We are committed to full transparency, with all expenditure itemised, benchmarked, and independently audited each year."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We are taking robust action to speed up the unacceptably slow pace of remediation and ensure residents are safe in Milton Keynes and across the country.

"Our Remediation Acceleration Plan has set out clear measures to drive accountability and make property owners fix buildings faster.

"We are aware of the issues at the Vizion development, and we are in contact with Barratt Homes concerning the remediation works."

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