RESIDENTS on a new estate in Droitwich have been left in “limbo” after builders disappeared last week – with rumours circulating that Persimmon Homes has washed its hands of the site.

Mark Naylor, who moved onto the Yew Tree Hill development in December, said street lights, roads and houses have been left unfinished, including work on a “death trap” junction.

The site is shared with Redrow and in total will include up to 765 homes, a 200-bed care home and a mixed-use local centre.

This will be spread over land at and north of Pulley Lane, Newlands Road and Primsland Way, and north of Newland Lane.

Persimmon entered into a formal legal agreement with Wychavon District Council in February, stating no more than 90 properties could be occupied until Pulley Lane was widened and the A38 junction was improved.

The developer then attempted to overturn this ruling on numerous occasions, with the latest to allow 210 to be occupied, refused in July by WDC.

However, a varying order now means it can have 188 properties occupied before the road works are completed and it is believed that limit has now been reached.

Gary Williams, WDC’s head of planning, has said while Persimmon is unable to sell further houses at the site, it is not prevented from building more houses or completing the development.

He added that the council had not received any notification from Persimmon that it had stopped development on the site.

Mr Naylor, who lives on Hare Close, said the estate is a health hazard, with roads covered in potholes, many street lights not connected to the mains and the dangerous A38 junction untouched.

“Persimmon promised the local residents before the build that they would sort it out, but they have gone against it and done nothing to improve the road and the dangerous junction,” he told the Worcester News.

“As a retired police officer, I have dealt with fatal RTCs that junction is a death trap, however, Persimmon disagree.”

He added that the company should apologise to residents.

A Persimmon South Midlands spokeswoman said, regarding the legal requirement to get the improvement work finished so more homes could be occupied, said: “We remain committed to rectifying this as soon as possible so work can continue on the build and the site can be completed.”