Frustrated residents living next to a £100million ‘ghost’ housing estate have issued a desperate plea for work to be completed, as it has stood empty for nine months.
Work was abandoned at the newbuild development in Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, in October 2023 after it emerged the contractor had collapsed into administration.
Just 30 of the 313 homes had been finished by Sherwood Oaks Homes, with the remaining properties sitting frozen in time.
Since then, the unfinished homes have been taken over by wildlife, including deer and foxes, in scenes reminiscent of the ‘Last of Us’.
Now, there’s now fresh hope for the 26-acre development to be finished after it was sold to Persimmon Homes in a multi-million pound deal this week.
And locals say they are keen for work to be completed as soon as possible, as it currently looks like a ‘model village for testing nuclear devices’.
The unfinished housing estate in Clipstone, Nottinghamshire
Linda Macutkiewicz, 75, a local resident who is happy the work is finally being completed
Work was abandoned at the site back in October 2023 after the contractor went bust
June Harrison, 76, said it was a ‘real shame’ the ‘beautiful’ houses had been left empty
Many are concerned whether people would want to pay £500,000 to live in their ‘old pit village’ anyway even once the modern homes are all built.
Great-grandmother-of-three June Harrison, 76, a retired control clerk, said: ‘They’ve been empty since last October.
‘They look like they would be beautiful houses so it’s been a real shame. You’re just left wondering all the time what’s going to happen to them.
‘It’s a bit creepy to see but now there’s two deer living in there at the moment. We’ve got foxes and everything living in there.
‘We’d seen the ones on the main road had been sold then all of a sudden we’d heard they’d gone into liquidation and the signs were removed.
‘But I am very pleased that Permission Homes has taken it on. They’re at risk of vandalism, although they have security there every night.
The housing estate has now been sold and will soon be ‘brought back to life’
Just 30 of the 313 homes had been completed when the contractor fell into administration
The unfinished homes have been taken over by wildlife, including deer and foxes, in scenes reminiscent of the ‘Last of Us’, residents said
‘We’ve seen people around there but we haven’t been given a time frame yet for when they will be completed.’
Another local resident, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘I suppose its not the fault of the developers but we’ve been left next to an eyesore for months.
‘With the animals in there it’s like something from The Last of Us. Its been quite spooky living by a ghost housing estate, as I’ve seen it described.
‘They just need to crack on with it now as it’s been a bit of a nightmare. They look like those model homes they build in the US to test out nuclear blasts.
‘I’m not sure if people are going to fork out half a million quid to live around here though. We’ll just have to wait and see.’
Retired factory worker Linda Macutkiewicz, 75, a gran-of-two added: ‘It looks abandoned and it wants finishing.
Homeowners say the properties were left frozen in time after Sherwood Oak Homes fell into administration last autumn
There’s now fresh hope for the 26 acre development to be finished after it was sold to Persimmon Homes in a multi-million pound deal this week
Residents live near to the housing estate which they said has become an ‘eyesore’
‘It’s such a shame because they’re such lovely homes and it’s a shame to not see people live in them.
‘The houses look nice but the infrastructure is not done. Some were finished but they had to spend the winter empty.
‘At one point some said sold on them but the signs went down again.
‘Most people I’ve spoken to just want them finished. They just need to be lived in.’
Other residents reacted to the sale on social media with one person commenting: ‘Lets hope they get on with the job now.’
The newbuild homes range in size and styles on the estate
Many are concerned whether people would want to pay £500,000 to live in their ‘old pit village’ anyway even once the modern homes are all built
Another added ‘I’ll believe it, when I see it’ while a third said: ‘About time. It’s looked a mess for months.’
Gareth Hankin, managing director at Persimmon Nottingham, said: ‘We are really excited to be bringing the Persimmon brand to this part of Mansfield.
‘It really is a great location – within easy reach of the town centre and with a wealth of local amenities.
‘On top of that there is fantastic open countryside just minutes away.’
