THIRTEEN luxury town-centre properties that have been in the pipeline for over a decade have suffered a wet set-back.

For the past 12 weeks, work has halted on Hillcrest Homes’ ‘Riverside Place’ development, which is being built on the site of Norbury’s Yard, off King Street.

Hillside Homes told the Guardian the delay was due to the high volume of water that needs to be pumped out of the ground to accommodate an underground car park.

The water will be carried via blue pipes along Moorside to the Mere, where it is being deposited. The developers anticipate that another 12 weeks will be spent removing the water and excavating the site, after which the construction stage can commence.

Mike Kennedy, MD of Hillcrest Homes, said: “The development will benefit from underground parking and the construction of this facility is extensive and complex. “This work involves pumping out a lot of ground water before any excavation can take place and this has always been in the plans.

“It was agreed that the high grade, filtered water, would be pumped into the Mere, which has in recent years lost some of its dominance.

“As the Mere is important to the town and regarded by many as an area of special scientific significance, we have been completing a second round of comprehensive water tests to ensure that the water is good quality – and, in fact, it is exceptionally clear.

“The water tests have been passed by Natural England and the Environment Agency so we will shortly be continuing with our development plans.”

The development has taken over ten years to come to fruition with Hillcrest’s initial proposals for apartments halted due to a moratorium. Planning for Hillcrest’s current scheme of thirteen homes was presented in 2009 and approved in 2011.

Once complete, Riverside Place will consist of four bedroom townhouses plus an individual three-bedroom cottage and will also provide a new pedestrian access route from King Street through to the Moor.

Nine of the plots have already been snapped up and the remainder of the properties will be sold through Princess Street based estate agents, Stuart Rushton.

To register interest contact Stuart Rushton on 01565 757000.