Linden Homes vows to finish roads and landscaping at Longacre

Residents at Longacre were furious to discover Linden Homes had spent £24k on a sculpture for the development when they have been waiting five years for landscaping to be completed and the roads to be tarmacked.

Now, Linden Homes has assured that the programme of works to the site, including landscaping and roads, is due to be finished by the end of the summer.

A spokesperson added: “The public artwork funding is part of a package of investment into the community as part of the planning agreement. This will see a total of £5.3m in contributions towards areas including education, open spaces, allotments and community facilities and we will continue working with local authorities to develop the area.”

Councillor Mark Ruffell, cabinet member for the natural environment and climate change at the borough council, said it had not received “high levels of complaints” from Longacre residents, some of whom have been living on the site since 2016.

He added: “The development at Kennel Farm is a significant size with construction and occupation happening at the same time.

“The laying of final surfaces on roads does not occur until late in the development, typically after construction works are complete. This is because construction vehicles, given their size and frequency of movement, can damage the final surface finishes.

“Similarly, landscaping of specific areas is not normally carried out until construction has been completed.

“The council has not received high levels of complaints but has been liaising with the developer and any complaints where issues have been raised.”

He added that the council works with developers to “resolve any discrepancies or breaches” and has liaised with Linden Homes.

“If breaches are not resolved through discussion, and it is expedient to do so, the council would consider exercising their discretionary right to serve formal notices,” he said.