A HOUSING association has agreed to pay £1 million following claims it has failed to meet affordable housing targets in Rochford.

Rochford Council and Sanctuary Housing Association have been locked in a long-running dispute over housing delivery in the borough.

With more than 2,000 homes in Rochford, and over 70,000 across the UK, Sanctuary Housing is one country’s leading social landlords.

However, the firm has agreed to pay £1 million to the council, following a dispute over payments owed by Sanctuary for failing to meet previously agreed quotas on the construction of affordable housing.

Council leader Simon Wooton said: “I am very pleased we have got the payment; it gives us an opportunity to reinvest in our communities.

“It has been a long time coming, but now we can focus on moving forward with delivering for residents.”

The pay-out follows an intervention by Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois, who met with the chief executive of Sanctuary, Craig Moule, to discuss the issue in Parliament.

After several months of talks, Sanctuary agreed to settle the dispute.

Mr Francois said: “I would like to thank Craig Moule and his colleagues at Sanctuary for taking a very understanding approach over this thorny issue and now settling it once and for all.

“In these challenging times, that £1 million will no doubt come in very handy for the council’s budget - perhaps they might even spend some of it to help refurbish the Mill Hall?”

Tenants have not always been happy with the homes that have been built by the firm during its 15-year partnership with the council.

Beverley Venables, 61, rents a Sanctuary Housing home in Appleyard Avenue, Hockley.

She says her home classed as affordable has made for “stressful” living.

“It does not feel like a high-quality home, there are a lot of cracks by my windows that let in a draft,” she told the Echo.

“As my energy bills go up, I am worried how much it will cost heat this winter.”

Sanctuary Housing were contacted for comment.