FURIOUS homebuyers claim a planning dispute has held up their moves to a new housing complex.

A luxury housing development being built at The Porch, in Barton, near Richmond, was due to be completed last summer.

But a drainage culvert installed by developer Hyperion Homes, of Durham, failed to meet the standards required by North Yorkshire County Council.

This means the council will not formally adopt roads on the site.

Adoption is a requirement set down in contracts that buyers, who have already paid a deposit for their home, signed with their mortgage lenders.

Carol Borwell, of Hunwick, County Durham, is one of several buyers who are now unable to complete the purchase and move in.

Mrs Borwell and her partner, Jerry Cardwell, blame the developer for the hold-up because it refuses to replace the culvert.

She said: "We want to move into our new home that we bought in good faith, but the developer is legally stopping us from completing.

"We can't move forward and our lives are on hold.

"They are refusing to co-operate with us and we are extremely frustrated and disappointed that these people can't admit that they are at fault."

David Coleman and partner Olwyn Porter, of Appleton Wiske, are also unable to move after paying a deposit of £11,000 on a bungalow for their retirement.

And Sheila Minto moved in with a friend in July after selling her house in Durham, ready to move into her new home in August.

Five months later, she is still there.

She said: "We're all very unhappy and concerned and would like the situation brought to a very quick completion."

David Lines, a director of Hyperion Homes, denied the company was in the wrong.

He said: "I am aware that some individuals have been contacting all and sundry, and what they're saying is totally untrue."

The firm has now asked the buyers to sign a private maintenance agreement for the culvert and roads.

Solicitors for the buyers say they could not legally sign, even if they wanted to.