Housebuilder has been ordered to stop using a farm track in Harborough after claims that it is causing flooding at nearby homes

The crackdown comes after furious residents have accused the controversial new David Wilson Homes estate at Burnmill Farm of repeatedly flooding their gardens and streets.

Harborough District Council has acted after slapping a ‘temporary stop notice’ on the developer last month.

The authority did so following a breach of planning conditions and a barrage of complaints from angry neighbours.

The notice ordered the builder to stop using a farm track for construction vehicles on land at Burnmill Farm, off Kingston Way.

Some 128 new homes are being built on the sprawling estate.

The temporary notice was issued to protect people’s homes and endangered species, such as great crested newts.

The creatures are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The latest stop notice is no longer ‘temporary’, the council said.

It’s attached to a tough new enforcement notice issued on Friday December 20.

David Wilson Homes has to stop using the illicit route for construction vehicles.

Stop notices can be used by planning authorities to act very quickly to address breaches of planning control, such as unauthorised activities.

Directors of Coalville-based David Wilson Homes could be hauled into magistrates’ court and fined £20,000 if they fail to comply.

Cllr Jonathan Bateman, the council’s planning enforcement lead, said: “We take planning breaches very seriously and if developers fail to comply with planning regulations then enforcement action will follow.

“I am pleased we have been able to quickly respond to residents’ concerns and take action to ensure the developer complies with agreed planning conditions.”

Reacting to the council’s latest move, Mike Major, deputy chairman of Burnmill Farm Action Group, told the Harborough Mail: “I very much welcome the issuance by Harborough District Council of the further stop notice.

“But such action would not be necessary if the developer had simply complied with the planning conditions in the first place.”

Mike added: “Leicester County Council’s principal ecologist required that the farm track should not be widened or resurfaced which the developer has done and should only be used by farm vehicles.

“But for four months they did not comply until the council issued the temporary stop notice which has now been made permanent.”

A spokesperson for David Wilson Homes East Midlands said: “The road in question was accessed in order to carry out essential resurfacing to ensure that those with access rights could continue to use it.

“As the road crosses our site entrance, the works were undertaken in accordance with our agreement with the local planning authority.

“We would like to thank residents for their patience while these repairs were being completed.”