WORK on an upmarket waterside development is now officially on hold until flats already built there can be sold.

Hampstead Homes says work to finish 170 homes on its Waterside Marina development, in Brightlingsea, cannot resume until the property market picks up.

Neighbours and the town council have urged the developer to hide the building site behind hoardings, so they don’t have to look at half-finished homes and building materials About 130 homes have been built so far on the old James and Stone shipyard site, but many remain unsold.

Plans for a restaurant as part of the development have also been put on hold, but a wine bar is still due to open within two months.

Philip Howden, project manager, was unable to say when work would resume. He added: “The company is still here, but work is on hold, pending further sales. Like any company we need sales to spend money.

“It totally depends on the economic climate. We haven’t run out of money. The money from rentals creates a status quo, but no more really.”

The Hampstead Homes website describes Brightlingsea as one of the East coast’s best-kept secrets.

It says 24 properties have been sold, 24 are reserved and seven are currently available, at prices ranging from £180,000 to £300,000.

Some flats are also available to rent, with a single-bedroom home costing £750 a month a four bedroom one £1,350.

Brightlingsea Town Council is pushing for the building site to be screened from view.

Alan Goggin, town and district councillor, said: “We could have to live with a site left like that for ever.”

Fellow councillor Vivian Chapman added: “It’s chicken and egg. They can’t sell flats until they finish the site – but they can’t finish the site until they have more sales.”

Mr Howden said the company would consider screening the unfinished parts of the site.

Local people have backed the council’s call for the site to be screened from view.

Brian Goodbody, of the Yachtsman’s Arms, on Brightlingsea Waterside, said he supported the council’s suggestion He added: “We took over the pub two years ago and we’ve not seen a single person there.

“There is fencing all around it which is horrible.

“The developer said it would tidy it up before the summer, but nothing has been done yet.

“Anything would be better than the eyesore we have now.”

Tom Sargeant, commodore of Colne Yacht Club, who lives in Oyster Tank Road, Brightlingsea, said: “We haven’t discussed it as a club, but my personal feeling as a resident is a half-finished building site is a half-built building site. It isn’t a thing of beauty.

“Anything to improve matters would be a positive thing.”