More than 20 council homes still sit half-finished and empty over three months since building work ground to a halt.

Despite a housing waiting list of 1,500 people last year, the homes at four flagship Epping Forest District Council sites in Waltham Abbey remain in the same condition as on June 1.

Work stopped when the council terminated Broadway Construction’s contract, claiming it had not been “carrying out the works regularly and diligently, contrary to their contract obligations.”

However, today (September 6) Broadway’s managing director Steve Fry said: “The houses were due to be finished between August and September so in the worst case scenario they would have been finished this month.”

He added: “We were going to carry on regardless, taking the risk of not being paid – we had started the work.”

The £3.7million project in Harveyfields, two sites in Roundhills and one in Red Cross Hall would house more than 46 people in four one-bedroom flats, five two-bedroom flats, six two-bedroom houses, six three-bedroom houses and two one-bedroom duplex houses.

Building work started in November 2014, with the scheme celebrated as the first new council houses in the district for 30 years.

Following delays, the council blamed Broadway for issues but the contractors claimed it was the council’s fault, with incorrect plans and slow negotiation.

Mr Fry also said he had to lay off staff after the contract ended.

“Not only have [the council] lost these houses being opened, local people have lost out because of it,” he said.

“There were delays, but I say strongly the delays were as much down to them as us.

“We were trying to resolve them, they weren’t.

“The project has just sat still.

“What is the advantage in that, even if we were running behind?”

“At least it would have been done now,” he added.

“It wouldn’t have cost all this heartache that is has caused.”

When the Epping Forest Guardian highlighted the standstill in July, a council spokesman said replacement contractors P.A. Finlay were preparing to start “in a few weeks”.

Today, housing councillor Syd Stavrou said a contractor is yet to be appointed and a wait of a “few weeks” remains.

Cllr Stavrou said: “It’s always difficult changing contractor mid-way through any building project.

“However, we are now at an advanced stage in negotiations and are optimistic of appointing a new contractor later this month.

“This will mean work should restart within a few weeks, and once completed, these will be some of the first new council houses built by Epping Forest District Council in decades.

“The work needs to be finished as soon as possible for the sake of those local families on our housing waiting list.

“These will be good quality homes built to high standards for local people.

“It is important to get them right.”

Are you on the district council’s housing list, or know someone who is? To speak to reporter Joseph Flaig, phone 07795 316 211.