A “technical issue” has seen a block of city centre luxury flats left empty for almost three years.

The handsome £1.5 million development in Knott’s Lane, Canterbury, has 11 apartments which had been sold off-plan ahead of their completion at the start of 2020.

But the sales fell through after the buyers were told the homes could not be occupied because they had been part-built on three small areas of paving owned by Kent County Council, before the land had been transferred.

The ongoing wrangle has since seen the flats sit empty for two-and-a-half years, with the hold-up proving immensely frustrating and costly to the builder, Waitt Estates.

And now the area around the block is increasingly becoming an eyesore, with rubbish piling up outside and evidence of drug-use and rough sleepers in the doorways.

Neighbours and businesses say they are dismayed the block – called Laurence Court – is still unoccupied and attracting antisocial behaviour.

“It’s really not creating a good impression in the area,” said Ahmad Qaderi, who runs the King’s Corner Cafe next door.

“Residents should have moved in by now, and the building and area taken care of.”

Sami Kumra, who works at Cafe Turquoise nearby, added: “We’ve noticed a lot more flies about the place with the build-up of rubbish, which is something we could do without. “

And neighbours are baffled as to why the new flats have remained empty for so long.

“It’s quite bewildering as to what’s holding it up,” said pensioner Alan de Courcy.

“And it’s getting disgusting with all the rubbish and certainly not a good impression to give tourists coming through this way.”

The development occupies the site of a former block of public toilets and garages.

It comprises eight one-bedroom flats and three two-bedroom flats and was granted planning permission in 2012.

The building work was completed almost three years ago and in today’s market the development could be worth more than £3m.

The issue was only revealed in a Land Registry legal search when the developer put the flats on the market.

Laurie Waitt, of Waitt Estates, says he is hopeful it could finally be resolved in the next month and the flats put up for sale in August.

“This has all been about three small areas of paving which amount to no more than the size of a small room which were in the ownership of Kent County Council,” he explained.

“We have been doing everything we can to get a solution, but all the while have had to stump up interest payments during the hold-up.

“But we have submitted new documentation and now I hope and pray we will be able to put the flats up for sale next month, and that there will be keen interest.”

A spokesman for Kent County Council says its officers are working closely with the developer to resolve the problem.

He added: “While there is no dispute, KCC is helping to rectify a technical issue over land ownership which has meant the new properties cannot be occupied until this land has been properly adopted by the developer.”