MOTORISTS have been warned to expect three weeks of delays on a stretch of Woodbridge Road in Ipswich.Drivers are being advised by Ipswich Borough Council to expect hold-ups until September 14 while construction begins on a controversial housing development.

MOTORISTS have been warned to expect three weeks of delays on a stretch of Woodbridge Road in Ipswich.

Drivers are being advised by Ipswich Borough Council to expect hold-ups until September 14 while construction begins on a controversial housing development.

A total of 340 new homes are being built at the former Hayhill allotments site by developers Crest Nicholson.

Accommodation at the new Vista complex will include 224 flats and 116 houses.

Temporary traffic lights have gone up and nearby residents have already raised concerns the work will result in major disruption.

One anxious resident, who did not wish to be named, believes the work will cause significant disturbance and was badly timed as schools prepare to return in September.

He said: “I walk to work in Ipswich and I saw the sign saying there would be road works for the next eight weeks. The work will not affect me but my wife travels by car and it will disrupt her journey”.

The controversial development was originally rejected by Ipswich Borough Council in October when Crest Nicholson applied to build 372 new homes at the Woodbridge Road site.

It was felt that the proposed buildings were overbearing and there would be a negative impact on traffic with Woodbridge Road being a main route to two local schools.

Planning permission was then allowed for the current smaller plot despite sustained pressure from the Hayhill Action Group.

In response to concern from residents, Managing Director of Crest Nicholson Eastern said: “As part of planning consent, we are building 340 new dwellings and a wildlife habitat at the Hayhill site.

“We aim to cause as little disruption as we possibly can”.