The developer behind controversial plans for a 152-home estate in Maryport has lodged a bid to legally confirm its planning permission remains valid.

But there is still no indication when the homes, at Deer Park off Netherhall Road, might be built.

Housing developer Story Homes was given the green light to build the estate more than three years ago. The news caused uproar in the town as people against the plans had passionately campaigned for them to be thrown out.

Since then, Story Homes has made a start on digging the first foundations, which a spokesman said happened days before the consent was due to expire.

Now the firm has applied for a certificate of lawfulness to confirm that was carried out within the required time and was sufficient to constitute commencement of the development.

But the company said it does not intend to start actual building works in the near future.

A number of conditions attached to the planning permission were discharged last August. Once these were cleared, preparation work began on site.

But the housing firm has said that even though the preparation work began, it cannot confirm a “delivery programme” for the development.

A spokesman said: “Because we don’t intend to start work in the near future, we’ve had to apply for a certificate of lawfulness to keep the planning application alive.”

Bill Barnes, one of those who campaigned against the housing plan, said a feeling of anger remained about the development, with many hoping it would never go ahead.

“My view is that the longer it takes, the better,” he said. “A lot of people have been against this development from the word go, and the anger is still high in the town.

“Hopefully it will never be built. People will always be angry about it.”

But Adam McNally, Story Homes development planner, said there was a lot of interest in the houses.

He could not give any firm details as to when actual building work would start, or a completion date.

“The site preparation and enabling work at Deer Park, Netherhall Road, was intended to preserve the planning permission for 152 homes,” he added.

“Although we received permission for these homes in 2013, the lengthy judicial review process which followed has altered our delivery timescales for the development.

“We continue to receive contact from many interested buyers.

“However, we are unfortunately unable to confirm a delivery programme for the development.”

Law states that planning permission lasts for three years after it is granted.

Unless work has begun, it will expire.

The lawful development certificate would confirm that work started in the allotted three-year time frame.

Allerdale council will decide whether to grant the certificate.