THE long-awaited multi-million-pound Kilnfields regeneration scheme is finally on its way, and not a moment too soon, according to frustrated residents.

After five years of talking about it, Waverley Borough Council's housing department this week submitted a planning application for what will be one of the biggest housing replacement schemes the district has seen.

The proposal is for 81 new homes with garages, roads and landscaping following the phased demolition of 47 existing dwellings, garages and sports pavilion.

Although generally pleased with the plans, a number of residents have criticised the council for taking so long to get to this stage.

Adam Forde told The Herald that the final application has been a long time coming.

"I'm pleased, but it's a bit difficult to have an immediate reaction when it's been hanging around for five years," he said. "My joy and excitement is tempered by the fact that it has been a pretty tawdry process."

Mr Forde hoped that there will be no further delays, and things will finally start happening.

"I'm sure the council will say the delays have been due to a lack of funds, or having to do a viability study," he said, "but I think some of their excuses have been pretty feeble."

The extensive wait has been "very irritating" for residents like Mr Forde.

"We've spent four or five years waiting for them to decide whether they were going to knock them down or refurbish," he said. "Meanwhile we've been living in boarded up homes."

Two years ago, maintenance on the properties was stopped, so problems such as damp have not been addressed. A lack of progress updates from the council was also criticised.

"The information has improved recently, but before that we heard nothing for months and months on end." Mr Ford said.

June Marden has lived at Kilnfields for 14 years, and is cautiously optimistic. "If they keep all their promises it will be fantastic, but we'll just have to wait and see." she said. "I'm very positive because I want to move, and have been asked what carpets and curtains I would like," she said. "I think it's fantastic for council tenants, but perhaps for home owners not quite so good."

Richard Jones said the work has needed doing for the last ten or 15 years. "It's a nice new development that most people are happy with," he said.

A number of trees and shrubs will be planted on the sides of the roads and gardens. Wooden street furniture, rubbish bins and bollards will be added and the courtyard areas, roads, and pavements will be paved.

The new homes will be built in the gardens of the existing homes, and then the demolitions will take place.

Mr Jones was particularly pleased with the introduction of partitions that can be moved about inside the property."

Waverley's director of housing, David Simmons, describes Kilnfields as unique in its mix of types of tenure. Of the 81 homes, 16 are currently for sale, 20 are shared ownership and the existing 45 will either be owner-occupier or rented by Waverley. If the plan goes through the scheme should commence in the autumn.

Some residents expressed concerns about the presence of asbestos in some of the existing buildings. Mr Simmons said some two thirds of the existing houses have asbestos. Some will be removed, but some will be left in place, according to the level of risk.

"We have called in specialists to deal with this so we don't see a problem," he said.