A MULTI-MILLION pound housing development has ground to a halt following a year-and-a-half of works, residents fear.

Four former office blocks are being converted into 93 flats as part of a £5.2 million scheme at Riverside Office Centre, off North Station Road in Colchester.

Metal fencing is in place at the site and construction vehicles were seen working on the building in June.

However, a source has told the Gazette the brakes have been put on the scheme with works not having taken place for about a month.

Gazette: Scheme - the former office block is being converted into 93 flatsScheme - the former office block is being converted into 93 flats (Image: Newsquest)

Gazette: Ground to a halt - workers have not been seen at the site for a monthGround to a halt - workers have not been seen at the site for a month (Image: Newsquest)

It is understood there has been a disagreement between the former owners of the offices and those footing the bill for the conversion, although this has not yet been confirmed.

The buildings – Fairfax House, Century House North, Century House South and Digby House – are now all exposed to the elements.

Many windows have been removed but not replaced while the development is in limbo.

Ammcass Group, which is leading the project, states on its website that the scheme began in February 2022 and was due to be finished by May this year.

Gazette: Development - the Riverside Office Centre scheme was approved in 2021 despite scores of objections from residentsDevelopment - the Riverside Office Centre scheme was approved in 2021 despite scores of objections from residents (Image: Newsquest)

It did not respond when contacted by the Gazette on Friday.

The blueprints for the transformation were approved by Colchester Council in 2021 despite scores of objections from residents.

If completed, the 93 self-contained flats will be a mixture of 19 three beds, 26 two beds, 42 single beds and six studios.

The council’s housing boss Paul Smith said question marks about the development’s future will come as bad news to families waiting to be housed.

Gazette: Concerned - Colchester Council's housing boss Paul SmithConcerned - Colchester Council's housing boss Paul Smith (Image: Newsquest)

“We have 318 families in temporary accommodation in Colchester, anything that delays more properties being available is bad news for them,” he said.

“93 flats is almost a third of our temporary housing need. I’m not saying this site would definitely be suitable but this sort of development could make a significant difference.

“The real concern is if the development stalls it makes it more expensive to get going again, making it tougher for the developer.”

Mr Smith urged people to stay off the building site while it remains out of action.