Flatpack homes on half-built ‘ghost’ estate are torn down by bulldozers – London Wallet

A ‘ghost city’ of half-built flat pack homes has been completely demolished after standing unfinished for more than a year.

The failed project to build 131 homes at the Meadow Grange development in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, was due to see 131 homes built.

Dozens of empty shells of half-built houses, by developer Guinness Homes, have now been razed to the ground.

The project was thrown into doubt when construction partner Ilke Homes went into administration in June. The plan was put on hold and ultimately the decision was taken to bulldoze the partially built homes, which failed to meet health and safety standards.

The developer is now on a mission to find a new construction partner so the homes can be rebuilt, however it has been unable to confirm how that search is going and when work will start.

Urban explorer Martin Halliday, who visited the site yesterday, told the press: “The land just looks ragged now – a mix of semi-abandoned building materials and wasteland.

“I hear there are plans for more new-builds to take the place of the ones recently demolished, maybe the new new-builds will actually conform to health and safety standards.

“The main thing that looks bad is the blue boards that surround the site, just like the ones that are around where the new Southend United football stadium was supposed to be, a little further down the road.”

He added: “It just looks deserted, I am sure both plots of land will get used for housing at some point in the future.

“That seems to be the main focus at the moment, to build as many new houses and flats as possible.”

Guinness has not yet issued a comment to the press.