Work on a council-funded housing project has stalled after the firm charged with building the properties went into administration.

Construction of the 16-home scheme on Kingsmead Field in Canterbury started in January, with hopes it would be completed this year.

This came after campaigners won a bitter battle to protect the rest of the three-acre green one from development last year.

But now it has emerged that progress at the site has come to a halt after house-builder Coombs appointed administrators towards the end of last month.

Canterbury City Council spokesman Leo Whitlock said: "Work has stopped on the Kingsmead Field site and the keys have been handed back to the council.

"Coombs was being paid in installments based on work that has already been completed.

"That means the council has not paid for anything that hasn't already been built and has not lost any money."

Five of the properties on the site are earmarked for families on the council's housing waiting list; while the remaining 11 will be sold on the open market.

A message on Coombs' website says it officially entered administration on November 30, after appointing joint administrators Thomas D’Arcy and Christopher Latos of White Maund Insolvency Practitioners.

"We have taken over the CCTV and site security contracts to ensure it remains secure," Mr Whitlock added.

"We are working as quickly as possible on the best way to put the contract back out to tender in order to minimise delays to the project."

The new homes were being built on a section of the field close to the existing Kingsbrook Park development.

Originally, the council had plans to build on the entire plot, sparking fierce opposition, but the plan was thrown out in a u-turn by then-council leader John Gilbey in 2014.

Following discussions with the Friends of Kingsmead Field group, a compromise was reached with the local authority that ensured just 20% would be developed.

The remainder was awarded village green status last December following the council’s voluntary application for the designation.

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