A GOVERNMENT agency has been slammed over ‘unreasonable delays’ in talks to transfer land to Warrington Borough Council, which could be crucial in plans to build 1,200 homes at Peel Hall.

Warrington North MP Helen Jones has accused the Homes and Communities Agency of ‘playing fast and loose with people’ over the negotiations for the transfer of the playing fields.

Talks between the HCA and Warrington Borough Council began in June 2012 but have been hit by a series of delays. 

A 1,200-home development is planned for the land in Houghton Green.

Mrs Jones said: “Information I have obtained under the Freedom of Information act shows that negotiations for the council to take on the land began in early 2013, but the HCA had approached the council in June 2012 to offer to transfer the land to the council.

“Negotiations dragged on until September 2016, largely because the HCA wanted a lease for seven years while the council wanted 15 years.

“The HCA also originally wanted a six-month break clause to be exercised by them at any time.

“Earlier this year the HCA said they were holding off putting the lease in place and an officer of the borough council reported that Satnam had given him the impression that they were in discussions with the HCA with a view to purchasing the land for access to the wider Peel Hall site.”

Mrs Jones labelled the delays in talks between the HCA and Warrington Borough Council as ‘unreasonable’.

She added: “Clearly there have been unreasonable delays by the HCA in agreeing this lease and I have to say that the council have often been slow to chase the matter up.

“Residents are entitled to ask just what has gone on with this site – no matter how often I or residents asked for the land to be transferred as a matter of urgency there was one delay after another.

“The HCA needs to stop playing fast and loose with Warrington people over these transfer proposals.”