Furious locals living on a “condemned” and unfinished estate, plagued by crime, violence and arson for almost 20 years, have branded it a “hellhole”.
Desperate residents say they have no idea what the future holds for the homes they live in after a £250million regeneration project collapsed during construction work.
And others living near the houses in the Essex town of Basildon say their lives are “horrible” living next to an unfinished property which they say resembles a “war zone”.
The ambitious project for the Basildon Craylands estate was announced in 2006 by Swan Housing.
The plan was to raze it and build 1,310 new homes and, to begin with, it was a success.
But since then it remained abandoned and unfinished.
One resident left next to the ghost blocks told MailOnline: “It’s limbo.” It’s like no man’s land. I feel like the last man standing. We are all trapped.
Deselect buildings on the Basildon Craylands estate that are to be demolished and redeveloped
Desperate residents say they have no idea what the future holds for the homes they live in after a £250 million regeneration project collapsed during construction work.
Keith Miller lives next to some of the demolition sites. He said: “We have made numerous complaints to the council and the police because young people are treating the place like a playground.”
Colin Parkins, 65, (pictured) built a ground floor maisonette two years before the project was announced.
The ambitious project for the Basildon Craylands estate was announced in 2006 by Swan Housing.
After Swan Housing’s plans were delayed, Sanctuary Housing took up the housing project.
Since then, the developer has begun demolition work on the northern area of the property, which is full of empty homes.
But others who live on the estate originally earmarked for demolition now say this has made it impossible to move or sell.
One of those most affected is Colin Parkins, 65, who built a ground-floor maisonette two years before the project was announced.
The Tesco delivery driver said: “It’s an absolute disaster.” I can’t live my life normally. Everything has been on hold for years.
‘I had a sale that fell through a few years ago when the buyer found out about the regeneration plans. There are no clear answers and we live in the middle of a construction site, with no idea what is happening.
‘It’s a hell. I have no idea what’s going on. It’s a living nightmare.
‘We are not updated. Sanctuary has said it’s under review, but what does that mean? What does that mean for our future living here?
“I don’t know if they will finish what has been started.”
The 65-year-old said: ‘At my age, I can’t get another mortgage. The other year I had to spend thousands of dollars on the bathroom because it needed to be fixed.
But I can’t keep spending my savings if we all have to move soon.
‘It’s a limbo. It’s like no man’s land.
‘The farm feels condemned. I’m very angry.’
He added: “I feel like the last man standing.” We are all trapped.
Aerial shot shows Basildon Craylands estate: residents say it’s like living in a war zone
Jenny Groves, 74 (pictured), says she faces constant noise and disruption due to construction work.
Those who live on the property originally earmarked for demolition now say they live in an uncertain future, not knowing what will happen.
Houses on Craylands Estate still lived in; It is not known if they will be part of the redevelopment program.
‘I would love to move. But I don’t know what’s going on.”
Jenny Groves, 74, lives in houses next to the construction sites, but her home is not threatened.
But outside his house there is a large fence blocking his view and he says he faces constant noise and disruption from construction work.
And he says the area has been plagued by crime and anti-social behavior in recent years.
She said: ‘There have been countless problems. If you leave something in that state, it will attract problems.
‘There have been arson attacks, illegal occupations, parties, all kinds of things day and night. It has been terrible.
‘I had to call the fire brigade because someone was starting a fire and I was afraid our houses would catch on fire.
The new homes on the Craylands estate which have been built as part of the regeneration
Newly built homes that have been part of the regeneration program
Residents living on the Craylands estate say it has become impossible to move or sell.
Aerial shot showing Craylands Estate in Basildon, Essex
Deselect buildings on the property that will be demolished and remodeled.
‘It’s horrible here. The situation is atrocious. There have been security people, but they are powerless and afraid of the people causing the problem in the first place.
“It’s like living next to the Berlin Wall.”
He said local rumors have circulated that construction work could be completed this month, but he doesn’t believe that will happen.
And he added: “Now it’s no longer a joke.”
Michael Sidebottom, 45, lives nearby and said it was like being “prisoner”.
The engineer added: “It’s crazy.” How can you treat people like that?
“There are houses that are still being finished, many people don’t know what is happening and the people who stay live in the middle of all this.
Pictured: Abandoned buildings cordoned off awaiting demolition.
Pictured: Trash dumped in an alley next to the development.
On the left, an abandoned building awaiting demolition, but on the road are newly built homes.
Michael Sidebottom, 45, lives nearby and said it was like being “prisoner”
Pictured: Abandoned buildings on the estate that will be demolished and remodeled
“It’s a constant noise of machinery and construction, but little progress.”
Another said: “It’s a shocking way to treat people in 2024.”
Keith Miller, 64, also lives next to some of the demolition sites.
He said: ‘We have made numerous complaints to the council and the police about young people’s treatment of the site as a playground.
“There have been all kinds of problems.”
Sanctuary Housing has been contacted for comment.