PERSIMMON Homes has come under fire from desperate residents who have spent seven months trying to move into their new property.

The site in Aldermaston Road, Sherborne Fields, was slated to be ready to move into by July last year, but buyers have suffered one delay after another.

Paul Holloway, 29, reserved a plot at the site with his partner in February 2016, as soon as they were made available, with the initial due date for completion and moving in July 2016.

However, as the due date approached, Persimmon Homes wrote to Mr Holloway in May to report that while the semidetached property had reached foundation stage, a complication had meant that the window for completion had been moved to between September and November.

After chasing Persimmon Homes for an answer, it cited changes in requirements from the NHBC (National House Building Council) about waterproofing in the house, even though those changes took effect in 2015, months before Mr Holloway reserved the plot.

“I had to nag Persimmon Homes for a response, and eventually received their phone call.”

Mr Holloway said: “I feel that Persimmon Homes, as a competent house builder, would have known about the NHBC changes with ample time to provide a reliable and realistic completion estimate – as per their requirements.”

He added: “I’ve written to Persimmon Homes on a number of occasions to explain my disappointment in how their performance falls below what I expected of them and the sheer costs we have encountered as a result of the delay such as rent and commuting costs.

“It’s easy to imagine that this delay also causes frustration to our landlord as we had to agree a new contract after being told we could move out in July.”

Persimmon Homes have said that Mr Holloway will be able to move into the property later this month, however some of the site looks to still be under construction.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes Thames Valley said: “We have been liaising with Mr Holloway since it became clear that he was facing a delay, offering him regular updates and alternative options.

“We are delighted to say Mr Holloway is scheduled to move into his original property this month.”