Housebuilder has yet to issue revised completion date for 227-home development after catalogue of setbacks

A 227-unit Bovis Homes housing development in Yorkshire is running more than nine months behind schedule after hitting a series of problems since construction began last year.

The project, called The Pines and situated in Lindley near Huddersfield, was due for completion in March 2004. However, it has suffered a series of setbacks including poor service provision, weather damage to buildings and, most recently, an apparent failure to meet planning guidelines on garden provision.

Bovis told buyers last week that properties in phase one of the development would be completed by 22 November. However, that deadline was missed and Bovis has not issued a revised date.

A Bovis spokesperson said:

鈥淏ovis Homes can confirm that The Pines development is behind schedule. We have faced issues with the services to site and this, combined with the adverse

weather conditions and a shortage of skilled labour, has inadvertently led to the development being delayed.鈥�

According to sources, the latest setback came when Bovis was told it could not hand over the site as it had failed to provide enough 鈥済rowing material鈥� 鈥� space where residents can grow vegetation 鈥� to meet planning guidelines.

The site management has been confused from the start

Imran Khan, housebuyer

It is understood only two plots on the site contained enough topsoil to satisfy planning requirements. Bovis is now believed to be in the process of redeveloping gardens to comply with regulations, but it is facing difficulties as development has resulted in reduced access to plots.

A source close to the project said: 鈥淏ovis is having to break down fences to get access. As space is so limited, they can only use small-scale machinery, which is delaying the process further.鈥�

Imran Khan, a building services engineer who has purchased property on the site, blamed poor site management. He said: 鈥淭o be told that there is insufficient growing material this late on in a scheme is a joke. The situation has been overlooked because the project has gone through so many site agents. The management of the site has been confused from the start.鈥�

The site suffered severe setbacks in March after gales delayed construction on the project. One three-storey building under construction suffered partial collapse as a result of the storms.

The development will consist of a mixture of houses and flats and will include areas of public open space throughout the site. It received planning permission in 2002 despite opposition from local councillors, who feared it would worsen congestion in the area.