TENANTS in a condemned block of flats at Somerford will be spending Christmas in their old homes after bats and bureaucracy have delayed the planned redevelopment of their Cheviot Court complex.

The 17 families currently living in Cheviot Court were told to pack their bags and prepare to move out by the end of the year when landlords Twynham Housing Association dropped the demolition bombshell in September.

But with the December deadline looming and none of the tenants yet offered alternative accommodation while Christchurch council modifies its housing allocation policy to accommodate them, the Cheviot Court residents have been told they can stay put at least until February.

And the ambitious multi-million pound redevelopment scheme, a mix of flats and houses for rent and shared ownership, is likely to be even further delayed by planning constraints.

Twynham Housing Association has only now lodged a formal planning application with Christchurch council, which will not be decided until early in the new year.

The possible presence of bats in the roof space of the three-storey flats could delay demolition until later in the year.

While housing association officials claim the delay removes residents' uncertainly over where they will be at Christmas and provides extra time to find suitable alternative housing, Cheviot Court tenants see it as an added frustration.

One tenant complained: "We packed everything up and have been living out of boxes because they said we had to be out by Christmas. Now we have to unpack everything again."

The Cheviot Court project is the first phase of a major regeneration scheme being drawn up in consultation with Christchurch council, tenants and community leaders for the Somerford estate.

Twynham managing director Marion Franks said: "Two of our aims for Somerford are to provide more quality, affordable housing for families and to replace or improve our homes that don't meet modern day standards. This project would achieve both.

"By offering some of the new homes for part buy, part rent we can also help create a more mixed community on the estate and give more local people a chance to get a foot on the housing ladder."