Progress is finally being made at an unfinished estate where some homeowners have been living without promised amenities for five years.

Shops, a sports pavilion and football pitches and a community centre were a condition of the planning permission for the 1,000-home Windrush Place estate in West Witney granted in 2016.

Developers Vistry, Persimmon and Bloor insist they have stuck to the Section 106 agreement and are "fully committed to fulfilling [their] obligations".

A Section 106 is a legal agreement between the local authorities and the developers, which can be linked to planning permission and obligations.

But resident Roy Gibbens, who was one of the first to move in in June 2018, said he was at his 'wits end' as householders 'do not even have the most basic community services'.

Lisa Gibbens added: "There are people moving away from the estate because the facilities we were promised when we purchased our homes just haven't materialised."

However, West Oxfordshire District Council has now confirmed that plans for the sports pavilion have been approved.

READ MORE: Rise in number of road casualties across Oxfordshire

And a planning decision on applications for the local centre and shops are expected in the next month.

Oxford Mail: Courts and Ashby at Windrush Place.png

Residents supported by Witney West councillors Thomas Ashby and Jane Doughty were even looking into legal action against the council which it says should have intervened to hold the developers to account.

But Carl Rylett, cabinet member for planning and sustainable development, said there was "no useful purpose in doing that at this time.

"It would likely be unsuccessful when applying government guidance, would cost a significant amount to the taxpayer and would divert from the active and positive negotiations that are ongoing."

The council said the developer had already delivered the majority of its commitments.

READ MORE: Two arrests for 'drug crimes' as cash seized in Witney incident

Witney MP Robert Courts said the consortium management team and managing directors of the businesses met last week to review the site and to come up with a strategy around general maintenance of the development.

This includes the green public space around Aerodrome Way and other public spaces that residents describe as 'a wasteland'.

He said: "While this is certainly very welcome and positive news, I will continue my campaign on behalf of the residents of Windrush Place, to ensure that WODC and the developers fulfil their obligations to residents.”

Mr Gibbens said Mr Courts "has achieved nothing tangible".

He said: "There has been a huge amount of effort go in to driving things forward with the council.

"This has involved a residents action group of over 220 members campaigning quietly behind the scenes, deliberately without political allegiance."