Long story short - we've been waiting since Sept 2019 for a resin driveway to be put down. We launched a small claim, [at the time we didn't think he'd ever do it as he had not been keeping us informed about any progress at all] which we eventually settled with a revised contract for the completion of the driveway by 31st August 2021.
[and yes, I have been on mumsnet before about this and everyone said 'he's taking you for a ride', but I was over-ruled by DH.]
However, now there seems to be a genuine global shortage of raw materials.
www.ntotank.com/blog/resin-material-market-shortages-and-rising-prices-q1-2021
I gave up hope of the driveway ever happening some time ago and I actually believe that the trader himself was never going to do it and has kept our deposit fraudulently. Now that there is a known issue with supply chains, do we have the right to ask for our deposit back as he will not be able to complete the job in a reasonable time [which was the basis of our original claim]?
Or do I keep hoping [as DH does] that he will eventually be able to do it?
TBH - I'd rather pay for a tonne of shingle to lay down on top of our existing driveway to make it look fresher!!