Residents say developers want to classify an eight foot pile of soil left next to their homes as a permanent 'wildlife buffer' - so it can stay there. The large mound of topsoil was left by contractors next to new-build Park Place in Corsham, Wiltshire.

       Locals say the 'mountain' has caused flooding in their gardens, spoiled their open views and privacy as people walk along it and peer into their gardens.

       Wiltshire Council’s planning enforcement team declared the mound unlawful - with developers from Redcliffe Homes saying it was caused by an issue with the contractor.

       Now, locals say a planning bid has been submitted by Redcliffe Homes to keep the mountain - which would “create an amenity and wildlife buffer.”

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       Corsham’s Park Place Residents’ Association chairman, Kevin Taylor, said that the retrospective plan was an “attempt to lower the level by as little as possible and minimise the cost to the developer".

       He added: “We don’t think [Redcliffe] are removing more than 25 percent of the soil they brought onto the site.

       Marie Jones, whose house directly borders the mound, said: “This application is a clear attempt to mitigate the cost of proper legal disposal of spoil from the site.

       “The developer has clearly gambled on doing the least they can get away with at the cheapest cost, to regularise the illegal development.”

       Another resident, Mark Billingham, said: “Redcliffe Homes have attempted to avoid removing a huge amount of construction waste from the site by dumping it on the application site illegally.

       "They further sought to disguise this by importing topsoil to cover the waste."

       A spokesman for Redcliffe Homes said: “We are trying to resolve this matter as quickly and amicably as possible for local residents.

       "The mound was put in place by a contractor and we are in a legal dispute with them, which we hope can be resolved quickly.

       “A planning application has been submitted to remove the excess soil from this development.

       "We regret that this issue is causing concern for local people."