WORK has started on a controversial homes project in Bridgwater which residents are still trying to halt at the eleventh hour.

Construction of the ‘Haygrove Park’ development, in Durleigh Road, has begun as part of a project to create 120 new homes on the west side of Bridgwater.

This is just a part of up to 500 homes planned for the land. But despite planning permission being granted, some determined residents are still arguing that the land is not officially classed as a development site in Sedgemoor District Council’s Core Strategy.

They say the Planning Inspectorate did not sanction the land south of Durleigh Road for a development site and any resulting development should not be allowed.

Although the district council has strongly denied this, residents are still trying to take the matter to the Secretary of State for Communities, Eric Pickles, and say they believe any development should be stopped as soon as possible.

Residents Brian Roberts and Stephen Brown said: “In approving this development SDC have disregarded the legally binding conclusions specified in the Planning Inspector’s Examination Report of the SDC Core Strategy.

“We believe SDC’s failure to conform to this fundamental legal discipline and failure to comply with the law completely undermines the integrity of the planning system.

“Critically, this land is outside the urban area and subject to restraint policies, which identify a number of serious and significant threats to both the community and the environment.

“These restraints, which prevent development, have been carried over from previous local plans. “They continue to remain in force having not been countermanded.

“The issue of documentation and Land Lawfulness Certification to developers and house buyers that cannot be legally verified by SDC is a very serious matter with far-reaching implications.”

A spokesman for the district council said: “We have responded many times to the residents’ concerns but as far as we are concerned the correct planning procedure has been followed.

“We have asked them to provide evidence of why this development is apparently unlawful but they have never managed to come back with anything.”

As part of the planned Meads scheme for the town, house builder Summerfield has contributed 42 acres of land and will be donating money towards the provision of cycle paths and footpaths, the creation of a nature trail, planting of an orchard and building of a play area.

Nineteen four-bedroom semidetached and detached homes will be built during phases one and two of construction.

The first show homes are set to open in spring 2015.

Summerfield divisional sales director Richard Nicol said: “Bridgwater is a town that’s growing rapidly, so there is an increased need for housing in the area.

“The scale of development and the opportunity to make such a positive difference to Bridgwater’s economy means this is a really exciting development for Summerfield in a very desirable location.”