FINANCIAL woes have left the transformation of a Basildon estate abandoned, unfinished and looking like a "bombsite", according to residents.

Swan Housing committed to a multi-year plan for a £250million regeneration of the Craylands Estate in 2006.

Known as the Beechwood Village scheme, the proposals were split into phases, with plans for a total of 1,310 homes.

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However, residents who moved into their homes between 2012 - 2014, say the project has been abandoned, with empty buildings and work sites in the north of the estate becoming a hub of anti-social behaviour.

Sue Linsday, 58, says empty maisonettes near her home are broken into almost every night by yobs.

“They have broken into these homes which have been left unfinished and are using them to drink and smoke out of sight,” she said.

“Every other night I am woken by the sound of a window or glass bottles being smashed.

"It’s so awful.”

Swan Housing says it is aware of anti-social behaviour in the area and is planning to introduce “robust security”.

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, says she has perservered having been promised the estate will be completed for almost 10 years now.

“It’s dreadful. The whole area is a complete mess,” the 70-year-old said.

“The new builds right in the centre are fine, but then all of a sudden, just behind these brand-new homes, you have the start of the abandoned maisonettes and the houses.

“If you looked at our estate and the empty maisonettes they have broken windows, rubbish gathering - it’s like a bomb site.”

An email seen by the Echo show Swan Housing has told residents the project is on hold due to financial issues. 

The document adds the firm is unable to confirm a date for the resumption of construction.

“We have encountered many obstacles during the first phases of construction and the upshot is that the financial outcomes are much worse than was originally projected,” the email said.

“This means that future phases will have to be reviewed as we attempt to find a way to pay for the huge rise in construction costs.”

A Swan Housing spokesman said: “There have been delays on the delivery of some elements of Swan Housing Association’s Beechwood Village scheme, a transformation of the Craylands Estate. 

"Swan remains committed to delivering much needed new homes.”