House-building giants Persimmon have been blasted for flouting planning rules for a Carlisle estate – and may now face the threat of legal action.

The developers were supposed to install traffic lights at the junction of Windsor Way/ Kingstown Road junction before the 20th home was plastered as a condition of planning consent.

But residents say that Persimmon has built more than 50 homes on the land to the north east of Windsor Way with over 40 occupied – and there is still no sign of the traffic lights.

Homeowners say the developers’ failure to meet with their obligations is causing “traffic nightmare”, making access to Kingstown Road extremely difficult.

The county council confirmed that the issue was in the hands of its legal department, and the city council revealed that residents had contacted the authority to express their concerns.

It is understood that legal penalties could include a fine or a court order, though the house-building company has insisted it was committed to completing the improvements “as soon as possible.”

Concerns were first raised six month ago, but no enforcement action has been taken by either the city council as the planning authority or the county council which is responsible for highways.

A city council spokeswoman said: “Several residents have contacted us expressing their concerns. These concerns have been passed on to the developer who are in discussions with the highway authority regarding their planning obligations.”

A county council spokesman added that both authorities would “ensure that developers uphold their planning obligations”.

Residents have written to the county council claiming the two-tier local government system has led to “shortcomings” in the monitoring of Persimmon Homes.

Homeowners have also claimed they are being kept in the dark about enforcement progress, with emails going back to June last year demanding answers from planning chiefs.

Calls are growing for council bosses to instruct Persimmon to stop building the 600-home estate until the traffic lights are installed.

Frustrated resident Kevin McClintock, who has been fighting to get something done for almost six months, describes the traffic situation as an “absolute nightmare”.

He said: “The traffic is an absolute nightmare especially if you’re turning right. It looks like the builders think they can just get away with it. I don’t think it’s right.”

City councillor Gareth Ellis has been working alongside residents in a bid to get developers to comply with the conditions.

He is also concerned that possible enforcement action and legal costs will land the taxpayer with a hefty bill.

Mr Ellis said: “It was a planning condition that they installed these traffic light after the 20th house was plastered.

“But despite the prospect of legal action by the county council, they still haven’t got themselves sorted – they are ignoring their planning obligations.

“As the planning authority, the city council should also be pursing this as a planning matter.

“An awful lot more development happening which means it has become increasingly difficult to for residents to get in and out of Kingstown Road, which is important for safety and access

“They are riding roughshod over their obligations, and it’s pretty shoddy.”

A spokeswoman for Persimmon Homes said the company was working with the county to ensure works were delivered in accordance the finalised design now being reviewed by the Highways Department.

She added: “Persimmon Homes are committed to completing the improvements as soon as

possible.”