Residents' anger over unfinished newbuild estate
BBCWhen David Maddison bought his newbuild home in Shropshire, he was attracted by the "fantastic location" and plans for a riverside park where he could exercise his seven rescue dogs.
Five years later, he says, residents are still waiting for many of the features they were promised.
Roads and environmental works across the Weir Hill and Lily Hay estate in Shrewsbury have been left unfinished, while developers have submitted plans for a further 430 homes on adjacent land.
Shropshire Council has launched an enforcement investigation into the unfinished works, although the developers say outstanding landscaping and environmental improvements will be completed by 2027.
"We want them to deliver what we were promised, as simple as that," said Maddison.
The homeowner, who has gathered the original planning documents for the estate, said residents were promised features including bat boxes, hedgehog highways and pedestrian routes linking homes to managed parkland on the banks of the River Severn.
Instead, he said, some footpaths end abruptly and areas earmarked as parkland had been left unmanaged, allowing invasive Himalayan balsam to spread.
He has launched the Weir Hill Riverside Park Community group in a bid to ensure the developers complete the work that was promised.
There are added concerns with plans submitted by Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon for more homes, which he fears could delay work on the existing development.
"Everybody's concern about that is, why would you let somebody loose again after causing this destruction, not only to the wildlife actually to residents wellbeing?" he said.
["Why allow them to] trample on another parcel of land on the next field and let them deliver exactly the same situation."
"We're not against developing houses, what we are against is reckless development, and that's what this is, this is just reckless and it's reckless for profit."
The BBC first visited the Lily Hay and Weir Hill development in 2024, when Maddison's neighbour Lin Glover raised concerns about the unfinished roads around the site.
She has lived on the development for five years - and is still waiting for them to be surfaced.
"Since the day I moved in, I have been constantly fighting," she said.
"There are people on this estate, this development, who paid their money eight years ago and we still have no roads that we can call worthy."
The resident is also worried that, if planning is granted for the new homes, that the existing outstanding work will be delayed even further.
"What I don't understand is how the council can allow that to carry on or even to be considered when they know the fight we have had," she said.
Shropshire Council said an enforcement investigation was in place, and would remain open "until the works have been completed to our satisfaction".
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon said final road surfacing works were scheduled for completion early next month, and that it was working closely with Shropshire Council on the landscaping and environmental works, which were expected to be completed by November 2027.
They added: "We are aware of residents' concerns regarding the proposed third phase of development.
"The application remains under consideration with Shropshire Council, and we will continue to engage with all relevant parties through the planning process."
In 2024, the Competition and Market's Authority called on the government to improve outcomes for newbuild estates and give residents a better route to raise grievances.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "It is unacceptable for developers to leave sites unfinished and we urge councils to use the enforcement powers we have given them if developers do not build the necessary infrastructure for new homes on time.
"Penalties could include hefty fines to ensure people in the Midlands and across the country get the high-quality homes and communities they deserve."
But for Maddison, the answer in their circumstances is easy.
"Give us what we paid for."
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