Work on a major housing development in Chatham is finally set to reach completion.

Capstone Green, next to Luton Recreation Ground, has faced years of delays after legal disputes, financial troubles and even a change of developer.

Now the end could be in sight for the 110-home scheme, which will provide a mix of two and three-bed flats and three and four-bed houses.

Planning permission for the site, previously used as Southern Water offices and laboratories, was first granted in 2015.

The estate was originally being delivered by London-based Brooke Homes Developments Ltd – one of several companies headed up by troubled businessman John Holleran.

Work started in late 2015 and involved manufacturing the ‘eco-friendly’ modular homes at a factory in Ashford.

But the development grinded to a halt when Holleran’s firm had rows with the manufacturer, Adston, and racked up eye-watering debts.

An alternative developer, London and Quadrant (L&Q), took over the scheme instead.

Many of the properties were completed with tenants ready to move in, but the housing association discovered a raft of issues.

It bought the site in several multi-million-pound deals taking place between 2018 and 2021, according to Land Registry data.

By 2019 the original developer, Brooke Homes Developments Ltd, had fallen into insolvency.

Up to 80 of the 110 homes have now been completed – all of which are affordable – including 16 affordable rented flats in a block named Tilia House.

Among the completed properties are 64 ‘rent to buy’ townhouses, which are L&Q’s first in the UK.

The government scheme helps tenants save for a deposit to buy a home by offering properties at a discount, normally 20% below market rent.

The last phase of the development, named Rosa Court, is yet to be completed as fire safety repairs are being carried out.

The issue is affecting 13 properties, which remain fenced off and unoccupied.

Neil Davis, development delivery director at L&Q, said: “We take the health and safety of our residents extremely seriously.

“During an inspection, we identified the need to carry out some improvements at Rosa Court to bring it in line with recently introduced fire safety regulations, including installing a new sprinkler system.

“Unfortunately it wasn’t possible for all 13 households to remain in the building during these works, and we worked with them to identify suitable homes elsewhere at the development.

“We supported them with their move in January 2023, and provided compensation for the inconvenience.

“All the affected families have since settled into their new homes, but they have also been given the option to return to their old ones once works are completed.”

A timescale for the repairs at Rosa Court is not known, but it signals a significant step closer to the long-awaited completion of Capstone Green.