The luxury homes, which have already been bought, are still unoccupied after a bitter row erupted between the council and developers over an access road
FED-UP residents who put deposits down on brand new £300,000 homes have been banned from moving in – because of a row over a road.
The luxury family homes, which have already been bought, are still unoccupied after a bitter row over an access road erupted.
Housing giant Persimmon have been told they must complete works to widen a junction before any more people can move into new homes.
The row has left dozens of properties on the Yew Tree Hill estate on the outskirts of Droitwich, Worcs, lying empty
Fuming residents now say the stalemate means their homes - which range from £200,000 to more than £300,000 - are sat empty and at risk from squatters.
Those already in their homes claim they can hear the "sound of glass breaking" as the empty properties are invaded at night.
Developers Persimmon and Redrow are jointly building 500 properties but a dispute broke out last February between the companies and Wychavon District Council.
Planners had initially agreed for 188 finished homes to be occupied before an access road on the A38 leading to the estate was completed.
It must be torture knowing your dream home is being abused by squatters and rough sleepers while you're powerless to do anything to stop it
Angry resident
But the council became concerned the roadworks were not on track to be finished properly so it took the developers to court.
They then secured an injunction banning any more people from moving into the properties until the access road was widened.
Residents who live there fear the empty properties could become a target for squatters and burglars if the dispute rumbles on.
A young couple on Fox Avenue, one of the first streets to be built, say they are living on a “building site” 18 months after moving in.
The woman, who did not want to be named fearing a backlash from Persimmon, paid £265,000 for a three-bedroom house.
She said: “The house that is opposite me was only finished nine months ago and it still has a For Sale sign outside.
‘It’s been on the market for months. We saw people coming to see it, there was a family there quite a lot and then no one moved in. It may have fallen through.
“The reason there are empty homes which have been reserved is because they’re legally not allowed to move anyone in.
“I don’t think Persimmon are entirely at fault. The council are not helping the situation.
“They stopped people from moving in four or five months ago, they were forced to stop.
“I know deals have fallen through because of the delays. They had a lot of people waiting to move in and they couldn’t.”
Another resident living in the finished side of the development added: "It's a nightmare.
"The estate is being overrun with squatters and gangs targeting the empty houses.
"Sometimes at night you can hear them trying to snap the locks on the fences around the empty houses and sometimes the sound of glass breaking."
The resident says "squatters and undesirables" have "exploited the window of opportunity created by the legal row".
They added: "It must be torture knowing your dream home is being abused by squatters and rough sleepers while you're powerless to do anything to stop it.
"It's not right. The developers aren't interested and the people who already live here and those waiting to move in have been hung out to dry."
The developers said they are still planning on getting the houses built for those who have already paid.
A Persimmon spokesperson said: "We have had no reported issues with regards to security from residents.
"We remain committed to building a development of 265 new homes, and site staff continue work in readiness for our future customers."
Cllr Richard Morris, who represents Droitwich South East on Wychavon District Council, said: "This development is still an issue of significant concern for residents.
"It remains vitally important that infrastructure is put in place at the right time to support the occupation of built homes."
