Few tears in Delph as builder goes bust

A DELPH building site looks set to be abandoned following the collapse of Belfast-based Taggart Holdings.

Yesterday, the firm confirmed that an administrator had been appointed in respect of its operations in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Plans to build thousands of homes worth hundreds of millions of pounds on more than 25 sites have had to be abandoned, said a spokesman.

In Saddleworth, there was little lament for the scheme to build 62 homes at Lumb Mill, Delph.

Saddleworth Parish Council’s planning committee had fiercely opposed the project, condemning the properties as ugly and abominable.

Today, parish councillor Ken Hulme said: “Some work has been done on the footings of the homes and strengthening the embankment. But the springs are breaking through again.
“The whole site is a bit of an eyesore and it was always a dog’s dinner of a development in any case.

“We thought at first that there were going to be jobs on site apart from building. But this turned out not to be the case.

“I suppose the site will just stay as it is unless someone comes and takes the job over.”

For the company, Michael Taggart described the appointment of an administrator at the request of the Ulster Bank and the Bank of Ireland as deeply regrettable.