A housing estate remains unfinished after more than a decade, with no end in sight for the long-running legal battle.

The Longmead estate in Norton St. Philip, between Frome and Bath, has been gradually built out since outline planning permission was granted on appeal in June 2024.

While all 33 homes have been substantially constructed by Malcolm Lippiatt Homes Ltd, the developer has not completed the necessary works to the estate road, meaning it cannot be adopted by Somerset Council.

The street lights through the cul-de-sac also remain unfinished – which a local councillor claims is putting vulnerable residents at risk and led to at least one child being admitted to hospital.

The council said it was working hard to end the long-running legal dispute but said the developer had only engaged for “limited periods” and has not provided all the necessary technical information.

Councillor Dawn Denton (Frome North) raised the residents’ plight when the full council met in Bridgwater on July 17.

She said: “Residents on the Longmead Estate in Norton St Philip have now been waiting approximately 13 years for the roads, pavements and street lighting to be completed and adopted.

“During that time, they have had to live with uneven road surfaces, unfinished pavements, raised ironworks and street lighting that has never been brought into operation.”

Portfolio holder for highways and transport, Cllr Richard Wilkins, apologised for the “frustration” experienced by residents but was unable to provide a cast-iron timetable for when the outstanding issues would be rectified.

He said: “You have my assurance that we are doing everything we can to bring this a conclusion.

"Unfortunately, we don’t have the power to force the developer to undertake their outstanding actions more quickly.

“It is a frustration for all of us at the council and we are trying to progress this as much as we can.”