RESIDENTS living in a new Netherton development are angry after part of their private housing estate was sold to a housing association.

Families living in The Beck, off Bowling Green Road,claim developer Barratt Homes sold seven homes to Midland Heart Housing Association without informing any of them.

Richard Gillard, who has lived with his wife Mandy and eight-yearold son Reece in the development since last April, say the residents only found out about the sale by chance after a neighbour was stopped for directions by a representative from the housing association arriving for a meeting.

Residents have now been left concerned that their own homes have decreased in value, with some saying they may not have even purchased a home on the development had they known.

The residents have also been left fuming after designated housing association homes in another Barratt Homes development just yards the road from theirs are still half empty.

Mr Gillard, 40, said: “We all had the choice about whether we lived here or at the other development and we all chose here because it was all private housing.

“We are disgusted at not being informed – how can a developer of their size be that desperate to sell seven houses on this estate when the development up the road has half of its designated housing association homes empty.”

He added: “We have nothing against thehousingassociation tenants – it is Barratt Homes we have the problem with. This is supposed to be a private housing estate and it should be kept private.”

Adrian Farr,managing director of Barratt West Midlands, said: “It is our policy to be as transparent as possible with all our customers.

“When we started the development, we intended it would be for private housing and our statements were consistent with that.

“However, long after private sales to our customers were completed, changed market conditions meant we agreed to make some homes available under the new Government- backed scheme which facilitates housing associations buying from developers.”