Villages near Heathrow ‘dying due to home buying scheme’
06.05.11
Villages near Heathrow are ‘dying’ because of a home buying scheme operated by BAA, an MP said yesterday. BAA has been buying ‘unsellable’ houses after plans for a third runway were approved by the previous Labour Government. However, Labour MP John McDonnell said despite the plans being scrapped by the new Conservative / Liberal Government, many of these homes are empty, leading to the ‘death of village life’.
When the Labour Government backed the expansion for Heathrow airport - with the planned building of a third runway and sixth terminal - BAA agreed to buy houses that local residents could not sell, if they wanted to move. So far it has bought 266 homes with another 8 sales going through at the moment. However, the plans were blocked by the current coalition Government - at least for the current term in parliament - when it came to power last year.
Mr McDonnell, who represents Hayes and Harlington, said many homeowners were still unable to sell because of ongoing fears over a third runway. He said people living in the villages of Sipson, Harmondsworth, Harlington, Cranford and Longford, ‘live under continuing fear of a third runway (plan) coming back’.
‘BAA is the largest homeowner in Sipson village and a significant homeowner in other local villages. Many homes have been left empty. We are told they are being refurbished with a view to being let, but the process is extremely slow.’ He urged BAA to sell or let the properties to families, and said he feared the properties were being retained because BAA was convinced it could change Government policy and push through the expansion.
In a statement BAA said: ‘Just as it is in the interests of people living and working in Sipson and surrounding villages that they are part of a vibrant community, so too is this in our interests as a landlord. We are prioritising lets to families and airport workers. We have a dedicated team managing our properties in a way that sustains and supports local community life.’
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