Abandoned newbuild estate left to rot with eerie half-built roundabout and roads – as locals blast ‘eyesore’ development

AN ABANDONED newbuild estate has been left to rot with locals blasting the development as an “eyesore”. The nearly 300-home Frognal Place development in Teynham, Kent, has seen no work for more than a year, shocking drone images have revealed. An abandoned newbuild estate in Kent has been left to rot with an unfinished roundabout and roads Credit: Barry Goodwin / KMG Locals have blasted the development as an ‘eyesore’ Credit: Barry Goodwin / KMG Engineers had started building the access roads and the new roundabout off the A2 London Road in March 2024. But construction has since stalled with drone pictures showing a half-built junction now surrounded by overgrown vegetation. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! This week, two years on from the plans for the estate being approved, villagers say they want to see the work finished. Robert Requena, who can see the development from his home of eight years in Frognal Gardens, objected to it after sewage leaks on his road. Engineers commenced the work in March 2024 but it has since stalled Credit: Cover Images Local resident Robert Requena says the site is a ‘joke’ Credit: Cover Images “The leaks are going to get worse when the homes are built,” the gardener and landscaper said. Southern Water said previously it could connect only 50 new homes to the system without the need for more “reinforcement”. The 65-year-old added: “I don’t want the houses built, but whenever I drive down the A2 I think ‘this site is a joke’. “It’s an eyesore. The developers have barricaded the site to stop people walking on the fields.” Most read in The Sun Robert added that he is “surprised” the homes have not been built already due to the government’s housing targets. Labour had promised to build 1.5million homes during the 2024 election but whether the government can keep this commitment has been questioned. Analysis, commissioned by Water UK and published this week, found England only has enough water for 420,000 homes. It’s now been revealed Chartway Partnership Group has pulled out of the development after it was due to build the road network, community allotments and the sports pavilion. A Chartway spokeswoman said: “Development projects often evolve over time and changes in housebuilder involvement are not uncommon in the industry. “Decisions of this nature are typically influenced by a range of factors, and this does not reflect on the site’s long-term potential to provide homes for local people.” Moat, which will be building the 298 homes, says it will be launching a procurement contract to find a new partner. Chartway Partnership Group were due to build the development including the road network, community allotments and a sports pavilion Cllr Julien Speed says local residents have reached out to him about their concerns Credit: Cover Images They have not yet set out a timeline on when it hopes to resume building work. Sarah Butler, Moat director of development and sales, said: “We recognise the strong community that already exists in Teynham, and we want to contribute positively to that by creating a place that all residents can be proud of and enjoy. “That vision hasn’t changed – our plan is still to deliver the homes and community spaces, including the sports facilities, allotments and orchard. “We’ve started the process to find a contractor to help us achieve this. We’ll be providing nearby residents with regular updates as our plans progress.” Teynham and Lynsted ward councillor Julien Speed says he is glad to hear there is some movement on the scheme. He said: “It’s an eyesore and has been for months, and local residents have contacted me saying they are not happy about it. “It’s one of the first things you see when you come into Teynham from Sittingbourne, which is not a great advert for the village. So I am pleased we are getting some progress on it.” Comment now