Work on a £1.5 million development to transform a Shropshire estate is due to start next month – about six years after cash was set aside towards the scheme by a parish council.

Harvey Unwin, Hollinswood & Randlay Council chairman, said he was frustrated with delays to the scheme for Randlay centre in Telford.

The parish council had earmarked £70,000 funding for the project but this has now risen to £95,000.

Now Telford & Wrekin Council said preparatory works were due to begin on site during December.

The scheme, which will see three new shops built with five flats above and a new community centre, had been held up by legal wranglings. Councillor Unwin said the shops were originally condemned in 2003/04 because of the roof.

Work had been due to start in the summer of 2009 and then September this year.

Councillor Unwin said the parish council had been pushing very hard to find out what was happening, and said the latest date was for pre-work in December and the substantive work to start in January.

He said: “Six years has been a terribly long time. The project should have only taken two years.

He added: “As a parish council we have set aside £95,000 to make the project viable and we felt very disappointed at the rate of progress. We have been given a number of dates for the work to start and these dates have come and gone.”

Councillor Eric Carter, cabinet member for regeneration at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “Telford & Wrekin Council shares the frustrations of the parish council and local residents but would like to put on record that the delay has not been due to the council who are working to make sure that this development goes ahead.”