Residents 'abandoned' at unfinished Oxfordshire development

Those living in the 30 or more properties at Linden Gardens in Carterton say they have been "abandoned to a building site" and have criticised Oxfordshire County Council's lack of action.

However, though a spokesperson for the local authority said they "understand the frustration" of residents, they say the council has "fulfilled" its statutory duty.

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Construction on the west Oxfordshire development began in 2020, with the developer Taggart Homes leaving the site in 2023.

In a video published on social media Charlie Maynard, MP for Witney, explained some of the problems with the estate since it was occupied.

Residents say the Linden Gardens development in Carterton is 'unfinished' (Image: James Bullen)

The Liberal Democrat said: "Just have a look around, there's all sorts of mayhem. Manhole covers raised and some of them very high and pointy which people could burst their tires on. 

"Some of the lights don’t work and pavements are still not built."

James Bullen, a local resident, has called the estate "unsafe", and added that it has flooding issues in the winter.

He was in conversation with the Witney MP, who has called for a solution to the development's problems and asked that the council pays for it - before securing the money from Taggart Homes - something it has so far refused to do.

Linden Gardens in Carterton has had flooding issues (Image: James Bullen)

Key to the residents complaints is that they say Oxfordshire County Council failed to enforce a road bond designed to ensure that if a developer collapses or walks away from a project, residents don't have to foot the ball for community assets such as the road.

However, residents say this advance payments code principle was never enforced.

Maria Woods said: “If OCC had done the single job required of them — collect the bond — none of this would be happening.”

Instead, the Linden Gardens community claims that despite warnings the council watched construction continue, then failed to act even when the developer stopped responding, abandoned the site, and ultimately went insolvent in June 2025.

Residents say the Linden Gardens development in Carterton is 'unfinished' (Image: James Bullen)

Indeed, TH Carterton Limited - which managed the project for Taggart Homes - was closed last year.

In a further blow, the Local Government Ombudsman has dismissed the residents' complaints.

Mr Bullen said: "The Ombudsman’s refusal adds insult to injury — but ultimately OCC created this disaster.

"The cost only exists because OCC deliberately chose not to enforce the law.”

Residents say the Linden Gardens development in Carterton is 'unfinished' (Image: James Bullen)

The burden of completing the estate now seems set to fall onto the community with the cost of the road and footpath surfacing alone reaching nearly £100,000.

Considering this residents have been forced to begin fundraising with £2,500 so far raised.

The fundraiser can be seen here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/linden-gardens-road-fund-a-community-failed-by-the-council

The families living in Linden Gardens say they are worried as the flooding season approaches once again and say they cannot sell their homes due to the drop in value.

Residents say the Linden Gardens development in Carterton is 'unfinished' (Image: James Bullen)

A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We did nothing wrong. We are ordinary families and we bought homes believing the road would be finished, but now we have been left to pay."

In response, a spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: “We understand the frustration felt by residents at Linden Gardens following the developer’s collapse.

“Oxfordshire County Council fulfilled its statutory duty by serving an advance payments code (APC) notice on the development.

Residents of Linden Gardens in Carterton (Image: James Bullen)

“At the time, the developer was actively progressing a private street agreement with the council, which is the established route for resolving these matters and would have removed the APC requirement.

“In those circumstances, the council continued to work with the developer through that process until the developer's subsequent financial difficulties brought progress to an end."

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A private street agreement is a formal legal contract between a property developer and a local council that sets the rules for constructing, approving, or managing a road that the public does not maintain.

The council added: “Linden Gardens was always intended to remain a private road and is not an adopted highway.

“Responsibility for private roads rests with the landowner and the management arrangements that are established for the development, rather than the highway authority."

As such, the council says the development does not fall within its "maintenance responsibilities".