Building work to regenerate Crabtree Place in St Paul's is not expected to start for another two years.

The cul-de-sac, which leads off Folly Lane, is part of the original development programme alongside Manser Street and Hudson Street.

But while plans for the latter two roads are predicted to go ahead next year, redevelopment bosses have admitted Crabtree

Place is no longer a priority.

Gordon Malcolm, Cheltenham Borough Homes's new build project manager, said the collapse of the housing market had led to the delay.

He said: "It was always intended Crabtree Place would be redeveloped with the rest of the project.

"However, a development partner will be required to take the sales risk on the properties which are built for outright sale.

"As the regeneration proposals have developed, the housing market has experienced significant change and the potential to secure a partner has effectively disappeared.

"As the Manser Street and Hudson Street site is at the heart of the community, it was decided to prioritise this as the first phase, with Crabtree Place following on as soon as market conditions become more favourable."

The changes mean Manser Street and Hudson Street will almost entirely contain rental houses when they are rebuilt.

In contrast, four out of five homes in Crabtree Place are likely to be put up for sale when the project is finished.

Shawn Wright is the only resident still living in the street after it was almost completely demolished by the borough council in last year.

The 50-year-old said: "You just get tired of hearing about it. I'm resigned to them not sorting it out. They just won't do it.

"I used to have neighbours. The kids would have someone to play with and there would be stuff going on.

"Now all I get is rats and burglars. I've had to put up barbed wire around my garden to stop people getting in at night and the rats are coming off the derelict land and digging under the fence.

"It's disgusting my family has been left in this state."

The redevelopment of Manser Street and Hudson Street will also be slightly delayed, even if the required funding comes through on time next year.

Building work was supposed to start in April but the final plans by architects Nash mean Cheltenham Borough Homes will have to apply to the Government for permission to build over the road in both streets.

The process is likely to take five months to complete, meaning builders will not move on to the site before the summer.

Gillian Horsfall, 56, was moved to Manser Street when her home in Crabtree Place was pulled down.

She said: "I can't believe it has been delayed again.

"I was moved out of Crabtree because I thought the work would be done pretty soon. But nothing has happened.

"The council hasn't told us anything. No one comes down here to let us know what is going on.

"It is not good living here. There are a lot of problems. I just want something to be sorted."