A HOUSING estate that was built more than a decade ago could finally be adopted by North Yorkshire County Council.

Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) constructed the estate, at Priorpott Mews, off Scarborough Road, in Norton, in two phases, with the first starting in 2005.

For 13 years the roads on the site have remained unadopted by the county council causing uncertainty for the estate’s residents, however the long-awaited transfer is now scheduled to start in a few weeks.

Norton county councillor Keane Duncan said: “Construction on the site is long complete and all properties sold. The wait continues to cause uncertainty for residents and a number of house sales have fallen through as a result.

“I am pleased Redrow are now moving forward with plans to finally make the adoption happen. A planning application to confirm the layout of the access junction was approved by Ryedale District Council last month.

“Work to install road markings and signage is due to start on this in a few weeks. After that, Redrow will carry out a list of remedial repair works. Every inch of the estate must be in pristine condition before the adoption can be agreed.”

Cllr Duncan said Redrow had indicated that the estate’s open space would be transferred to management company Meadfleet at the same time.

“The estate is not looking its best, with overgrown hedges and broken street furniture in some areas,” he added. "In a severe case, residents on one row of houses were actually left unable to access their front doors due to bushes growing into their front gardens.”

He added: “While some improvements have been made, the estate deserves a full tidy up and a regular programme of maintenance “Although Meadfleet have been chosen to manage the open space, residents are yet to be told how much their services will cost and who will be liable for payment. I remain in close contact with Redrow during this handover period and will be seeking answers on behalf of residents.”

A spokesman for Redrow said: “We are in the process of finalising the contract for the entrance works.

"The works require a temporary closure of the road and so we will be booking this in the next week or so. I would hope that they will be completed by the end of May. Once this is complete we will move onto site to complete the highway remedial works which will enable the estate roads to be adopted.”