Construction workers building a controversial 400-home estate have downed tools amid claims planning conditions have been breached.

Housebuilding giant Redrow it has temporarily halted its progress at the Cockering Farm scheme on the edge of Thanington, Canterbury.

The firm has outline approval for the development - essentially for the size and scale of the project - but has yet to receive detailed permission.

Diggers were brought in midway through November to begin breaking ground for the housing complex, devastating residents who have shared their anger and “heartbreak” at seeing the early stages taking shape.

Redrow was accused of starting the work in “direct contravention” of planning conditions, sparking a city council investigation.

But before the probe was concluded, the firm agreed to vacate the site until the conclusion of a separate legal challenge launched by the wife of a billionaire businessman.

Chartham resident Camilla Swire - who is married to Barnaby Swire, chairman of the Swire Group conglomerate - is attempting to block the construction of the multi-million pound scheme.

Her challenges, and the accusations of planning breaches, relate to the outline approval of the masterplan for the site and the subsequent so-called ‘non-material amendments’ to the conditions.

Her concerns surround the realignment of a spine road through the estate and the creation of a new access point.

She also argues that the city council has failed to consider the environmental impact of the development. The legal challenge was launched in the spring, and The Queen’s Bench Planning Court subsequently granted the judicial review in August.

A legal examination has since been in progress, with the findings expected to be heard in January.

The construction site - on farmland between the A28, Milton Manor Road and Cockering Road - has now been padlocked up.

Mrs Swire has welcomed the fact work has temporally stopped due to her legal fight, and hopes the delay can be become permanent.

“Redrow halting damage on site is something indeed, but there are still numerous council failures regarding planning,” she said. “Whatever the court decides, stakeholders are fed up with a legal process which shouldn’t be needed.

“The council’s failure is apparent: they haven’t thought about the consequences of the still-unbuilt slip-road from the A2, let alone potential damage to the River Stour and Stodmarsh nature conservation site.

“Redrow began work in direct contravention of conditions on its planning permission, and the council was incredibly slow to take notice. I am one of a multitude who shouldn’t have to do the council’s work for it.”

But a city council spokesman said: “We simply do not recognise the situation as it has been repeatedly portrayed and are confident the developer has properly been granted the permissions it needs.

“While investigating a possible breach of conditions on which we had not reached a conclusion, Redrow notified us they would be suspending work on the site. We are grateful for any reports of possible breaches of planning control and investigate accordingly.”

Redrow requires detailed approval before housebuilding can begin.

An application for the first phase of 60 homes has been submitted to the city council.

The plans are currently open for public consultation, and have already attracted a handful of objections from nearby residents.

Jane Redman wrote: “The works that have been started have already scarred the countryside, impacting significantly on views from Chartham Hatch and Chartham village and altering the village landscape considerably.”

Frances Williams is concerned about the impact on the ever-worsening congestion on the western side of the city.

“The traffic management of this development will be a disaster and cannot possibly have been adequately considered,” she said. “Most of these homes will have two, possibly three cars.”