Tag Archives: Colm Lacey

Taxing times for Perry as he deploys Negrini as his ‘dead cat’

Posted on February 17, 2023 by insidecroydon

Try not to get your hopes up too much ahead of next week’s Penn Report meeting, suggests STEVEN DOWNES. The Mayor might be over-promising before under-delivering again Is Jo Negrini being used as a “dead cat” by Croydon Mayor Jason … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, The Penn Report | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Brick by Brick close to selling off Coulsdon flats at half-price

Posted on December 29, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The borough’s residents could be short-changed again as the council’s housing developer bails out by selling Lion Green Road flats on the cheap. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES One of the country’s biggest housing associations is in talks … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

#PennReport: Cover-ups and denial over Brick by Brick failure

Posted on October 13, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The ‘highly dysfunctional’ council had ‘no transparency or accountability’ over the way it handled millions of pounds of public money. And this latest extract from the Penn Report shows that some key figures refuse to accept responsibility … Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIF, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

This is £12m Fairfield ‘plaza’ that Mayor Perry wants to create

Posted on July 14, 2022 by insidecroydon

Existing designs for a public open space between the town’s major arts centre and Croydon College have been derided as ‘jokey’, ‘crass’ and ‘one gigantic hardscape of pink and grey candy stripe concrete’. By STEVEN DOWNES Mayor Jason Perry’s announcement … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Heather Cheesbrough, Housing, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Place Review Panel, Planning, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Brick by Brick abandons its planning consents and 23 sites

Posted on June 11, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council this week set light to a ‘bonfire of the vanities’, abandoning planning applications on 477 homes around the borough in development proposals by their failed house builders. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council has dumped … Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Environment, Housing, Jo Negrini, London-wide issues, New Addington, Norbury, Paul Scott, Planning, Property, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman, Waddon, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

‘Disgrace’ as £110m of Brick by Brick homes stand empty

Posted on June 7, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Research conducted by a residents’ group has confirmed that more than 200 new homes, built with public cash by the council-owned company, remain vacant, in some cases for more than a year. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Business, Chris Philp MP, Colm Lacey, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Housing, Old Coulsdon, Planning, Property, South Croydon, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Croydon v Croydon: Brick by Brick building declared a ‘danger’

Posted on May 17, 2022 by insidecroydon

The council’s failed development company has been criticised for its late-running, incomplete and vastly over-budget projects. Now one of its most prestigious schemes has been officially ruled to be a danger to the public. EXCLUSIVE by BARRATT HOLMES One of … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Libraries, Norwood Junction, Planning, Property, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Bafta-winner Scanlan joins calls for new bosses at arts centre

Posted on April 26, 2022 by insidecroydon

‘Things are far from perfick at the Fairfield ‘Alls’ says the award-winning actress who plays Ma Larkin, as the campaign to sack BHLive gathers momentum. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Joanna Scanlan, the BAFTA award-winning actress, has called on Croydon Council … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Fairfield Halls, Music, The Wreck, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Brick by Brick boss got paid while setting up own business

Posted on March 18, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: An investigation by this website has discovered that Colm Lacey set up his own personal consultancy company while he was still a paid employee of the council-owned housing developer. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Colm Lacey registered his … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Paul Scott, Planning, Richard Simpson | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

CEO of loss-making Brick by Brick gets cosy job with architects

Posted on March 14, 2022 by insidecroydon

Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, on the latest turn of the revolving door between the council and commercial firms it hires Colm Lacey, the man who single-handedly probably did more to bankrupt Croydon Council than anyone, has landed himself a … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Brick by Brick calls in ex-Royal Navy officer to sort out the flak

Posted on January 25, 2022 by insidecroydon

Brick by Brick has announced the appointment of two directors to manage the wind-down of the loss-making council-owned house-builders. With the publication expected tomorrow of the long-anticipated Report In The Public Interest into the multi-million-pound disaster that was Brick by … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Monument planned for man behind monumental disaster

Posted on January 7, 2022 by insidecroydon

Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, has found proposals for a piece of public art which proves that some involved in the Brick by Brick scandal and Fairfield Halls fiasco really have no shame A firm of developers wants to place … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Jo Negrini, Martyn Evans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

£110,000 director job advertised to flog off Brick by Brick

Posted on December 4, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: While the council CEO lays off dozens more frontline workers just in time for Christmas, she’s still recruiting for six-figure salaried commercial director. By STEVEN DOWNES Undaunted by the realisation that dabbling in the casino economics of … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Sound of Silence is not the song we need from Town Hall

Posted on December 2, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Since audit regulations were amended in 2015, only five other local councils have been the subject of Reports in the Public Interest, with findings from their auditors of mismanagement or wrong-doing*. Croydon joined that list last year and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council to be rocked by second Report In The Public Interest

Posted on November 26, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The £70m ‘Fairfield fiasco’ has provoked serious concerns with auditors over the potential misuse of public money, with bungling developers Brick by Brick under scrutiny. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES External auditors are to issue a Report In … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Paula Murray, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Ennis, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Sean Fitzsimons, Shifa Mustafa, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Brick by Brick ‘sweetheart’ sale could have cost another £45m

Posted on November 3, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The latest report from government-appointed inspectors assigned to check on the council finances reveals that a sweetheart deal to sell failed house-builders Brick by Brick to a Manchester developer could have cost the bankrupt borough another £45m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Planning, Section 114 notice, Tom Bloxham, Tony McArdle, Urban Splash | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CEO Lacey quits Brick by Brick; deputy to leave company, too

Posted on August 31, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The incompetent chief executive and self-proclaimed ‘founder’ of the council-owned building company which bankrupted the borough has announced his departure – but councillors have been kept in the dark. By STEVEN DOWNES Colm Lacey is to leave … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Government-appointed advisers pulled plug on BxB sale

Posted on July 2, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Improvement Panel’ ordered council to abandon its poor-value deal to sell Brick by Brick, and instead to pay Wates Construction £1.12m to oversee the loss-making builders’ work on 23 sites. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Hamida Ali, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Chris Buss, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Planning, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Mystery of £200k council exec points towards BxB’s Lacey

Posted on June 25, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: While the average salary of council employees is a modest £23,000, those at the top of the organisation, even when it was heading for financial collapse, still made sure they awarded themselves cushty pay hikes. By STEVEN … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Nathan Elvery | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Council puts hotel and College Green up for sale for just £40m

Posted on June 22, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Two prime sites, owned by the council, are the latest public assets to be off-loaded on the cheap. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The cash-strapped council’s fire-sale of public assets continues, with the Croydon Park Hotel and College … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, East Croydon, Housing, Jo Negrini, Property, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Making a Splash: big bailouts behind Brick by Brick’s buyers

Posted on May 8, 2021 by insidecroydon

STEVEN DOWNES reports on the colourful character behind the business which is set to buy up Croydon’s loss-making house-building company The company tipped to take failed housing company Brick by Brick off Croydon Council’s hands has broken loan covenants and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Chris Buss, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Tom Bloxham | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Going to the lowest, only bidder: council finds buyer for BxB

Posted on May 7, 2021 by insidecroydon

EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council could have to pay at least another £40million in order to sell off Brick by Brick, the Labour-controlled local authority’s failed housing developer which bankrupted the Town Hall. And the multi-million-pound spending on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Chris Buss, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Housing, Jo Negrini, Urban Splash | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

BxB’s collapse was predictable. Why did no one else notice?

Posted on April 19, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: It did not take a couple of £800-a-day consultants to spot that Brick by Brick was dragging the council into financial ruin. Reader NICHOLAS PANES’s first piece for this website, the presciently headlined “Building towards the council’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, Martyn Evans, Paul Scott, Planning, Simon Hall, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Brick by Brick’s delayed accounts show another £0.8m loss

Posted on April 1, 2021 by insidecroydon

Report states ‘material uncertainty in respect of going concern’ Fairfield Halls project costs soar to £76.4m New directors find many BxB properties over-valued Auditors ‘unable to determine whether adequate accounting records have been kept’ With just a few hours to … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Housing, Jo Negrini, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Brick by Brick needs £10m loan to avoid going bankrupt

Posted on February 19, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Consultants’ salvage plan for failed house-builder is accepted, including the council paying a second time for 190 flats which will be used as social housing. But the full extent of potential losses is kept under wraps. By … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Homes, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Property | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments