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December 2018
southbristolvoice
December 2018
southbristolvoice
n NEWS
A TOTTERDOWN MAN who built his own house in a pioneering self-build scheme which was supposed to put him on the ladder to home ownership has been left with nothing despite pursuing his claim for more than 25 years. Derrick Palmer of St John’s Lane says he has been cheated by the housing association which owns his home – but which he believes should be his by now. Derrick, 51, was just 19 when he joined a group of fellow young black Bristolians to form Bankole, a housing association intended to empower them to build seven houses for them to live in. All seven were from disadvantaged backgrounds and stood little chance of ever buying a home on the open market. But with the support of William Waldegrave, then Conservative MP for Bristol West and a cabinet minister, Bankole gained access to two plots of land next to the mini roundabout in St John’s Lane. The land had been cleared in the destruction of part of Totterdown to build a ring road which was later aborted. With help from Kingdomwide, a bigger Bristol-based housing association, a Housing Association Grant of almost £200,000 was agreed. The seven young men began building the homes under supervision in summer 1991, learning building skills on the way. Their year of labour was to be rewarded with a share of the equity of at least 20 per cent. Bankole needed a loan to fund their works – but Kingdomwide said this would be interest-free and could be repaid as part of their rent once the homes were finished in October 1992.
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Derrick Palmer outside the St John’s Lane house that he helped to build in 1991-2. Its owner, Places for People, refused to comment on his allegations
Roll on 26 years, and things have not turned out as planned. None of the seven self-builders owns a single brick on the site. Derrick is one of only two who still live there. With his neighbour, Desmond Stanley, he rents his house from Places for People, the large housing association whose predecessors acquired the site in 1991 just before work started. The story of the homes is complex – but Places for People would give the Voice no explanation. Its spokesperson, from a Manchester public relations firm, said only: “We have liaised extensively with Mr Palmer over several years, in order to find a resolution to this matter. We have explained our position to the fullest extent and
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I built this house – but I still don’t own a single brick of it
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therefore do not consider it appropriate to comment any further.” Derrick Palmer says Places for People (then known as North British Housing Association, NBHA) changed the rules once it took over the site in 1991. It charged interest on the loan made to the self builders. When the homes were finished, it cited delays by the builders, and said increased costs had wiped out any surplus value in the homes. There was no equity for the builders – but they could have an assured long-term tenancy, it said. Derrick accepts that relationships between some of the young builders broke down, and there were delays. But they caught up – and the only
VOICE COMMENT
D
ERRICK Palmer’s claim that he has been cheated out of the house that should have been his by now is a complex story. The truth is something that probably only a court could decide. But is it right that Places for People makes no public attempt to answer such serious allegations? This is a group providing 40,000 homes, largely funded by public money. The Voice suggests that if a public body such as a council refused to comment in this way it would be seen as unacceptable. Could Places for People not try again to bring this 26-year long dispute to a close?
deadline was missed after NBHA took on the landscaping. Places for People has told the builders they have no right to any equity. Despite this, Derrick says he has twice been offered a 25 per cent stake in his house. In 2008 he was told the house was worth £150,000 and he could only get his money if it was auctioned. But a reserve value of just £100,000 was put on the house, and Derrick backed out, saying the deal was unfair. Another deal in 2015 broke down for similar reasons. Over 26 years, Derrick has refused to give up his fight. He is now planning the latest of a long series of legal challenges.
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Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk