A COMPLEX of flats for young mothers and pregnant teenagers in Radcliffe could be a casualty of Government cuts.

Although Manchester Methodist Housing Association was given planning permission to build the development eight months ago the land in Bury Road still remains untouched.

This is because the Government has cut a special grant to run that, and nine other projects in the borough, by 90 per cent from an expected £840,000 to just £84,000. Yet the cost of erecting the buildings is part-funded by the Government.

Town hall bosses are furious that the money to run these schemes, through a new tranche of Supporting People cash called Pipeline funding, has not been forthcoming. They say Bury has been placed in an impossible situation, unable to provide essential new services, while housing associations have wasted money on projects which cannot be opened.

Planning bosses unanimously approved Manchester Methodist Housing Association's application for the young mothers complex last October, giving permission for 12 flats to be built on the disused land. The flats were destined to house mums and mums-to-be aged between 16 and 20. There were also plans to create office space, a creche, laundry, common room, meeting room, training rooms to teach the girls mothering skills, and a nine-space car park.

Council leader John Byrne has formally protested to the Government and asked the borough's MPs for help. The results of his appeal should be known soon.

He said: "Housing Corporation capital could be lost if a start date on site does not take place soon. MMHA has indicated that they will not commence building unless revenue funding is secure, but we are £100,000 short of the sum required."

A spokesman for Manchester Methodist Housing Association said: "We are as frustrated as Bury Council at what's happened. We have been told a decision is imminent, but we've heard that before. It makes progress very difficult and we can't even begin work on the site until we know what is going to happen."