A major housing development in St Helens has ground to a halt - as the credit crunch bites.
Work 1,200 home scheme at Moss Nook, off Watery Lane in Sutton, will be suspended at the end of July.
Banks Developments, who have been excavating the site for the past nine months, say they will not continue until they 'see signs that the economi
c situation is changing'.
The 50-hectare site, which stretches from Watery Lane up to Cromdale Grove and out to Berry Lane, will be left as a huge building site.
Phase one of the ground works will be completed but no homes will be built. Employees on the site will be contracted elsewhere.
Steve Williams, project manager at Banks Developments, said: "Work will recommence once we see signs that the economic situation is changing. We are confident that Moss Nook will become the successful, high quality community that we are aiming to create.
"A comprehensive site management plan is already in place, which will ensure the site is in a safe condition whilst work is suspended.
"Regular inspections by Banks personnel will be undertaken to ensure everything remains in good order, and local people have been informed of how they can contact us should any issues in or around the site be causing them concern."
