CAMDEN Council spent a whopping £1.6 million on a massive housing project which will never see the light of day.
As confusion mounts over what will happen to the crumbling Chalcot estate – five tower blocks in Adelaide Road, Swiss Cottage – housing boss Councillor Raj Chada said he wanted the government to be aware of how much money had been ploughed into a failed Private Finance Initiative to revamp the buildings.
He is furious that the plug was pulled on the scheme last month when the Treasury said costs had spiralled out of control.
The decision has left residents on the 712-flat estate with no idea when basic improvements to their flats will be completed.
Camden Council insists there is no rescue package waiting in the wings.
Choosing his words carefully, Cllr Chada said: “We want the government to know how much we have spent on this scheme. We did everything the government asked of us.”
He did not go as far as claiming the money had been wasted but housing director Neil Litherland, his department’s top official, has already fired such a shot.
Mr Litherland told trade magazine Contracts Journal: “We have wasted four years and £1.6 million on this.”