HALF-built homes on an abandoned estate in Minehead have started to collapse, with walls falling over and at least one losing its roof in a recent storm.

Hopcott Road residents say the site has become more of an eyesore than ever since work stopped last year when Stratton Land went into administration with debts of more than £36 million.

Families who opposed development from the outset say their lives have been blighted as the shoddily-constructed houses and flats begin to tumble.

One local householder said he and his neighbours were laying the entire blame for saga on the local authority.

He said: “It was Somerset West and Taunton council which first approved this development despite the fact it was completely out of character in terms of design, with not the merest reference to local architectural styles or materials.

“The same council allowed the builders to wriggle out of their section 106 contribution simply became they claimed they could not afford it, when it had been one of the fundamental conditions of the planning permission.

“That alone should have rung loud warning bells about the financial soundness of the project.

“There has clearly been a total lack of local authority involvement to ensure proper building standards were observed, which is why properties built only a matter of months ago are now collapsing.

“This is what you get when decisions on local developments are taken remotely by people with no knowledge of the area and zero interest in ensuring construction is properly carried out, as long as the council meets its house-building target.

“You get the distinct impression this is just another case of ‘it is only Minehead, so it does not matter’.”

Somerset Council said it was aware of the site and had carried out precautionary checks which showed properties currently ‘do not pose a hazard to the public’.