UK: Residents slam developers who left newbuild housing estate looking like "glorified building site"
  • 10 months ago
Residents have slammed developers who have left their newbuild housing estate looking like a "glorified building site" after the roads were left unfinished for three years.

Dozens of families forked out between £400,000-£600,000 when they moved into their dream homes on the outskirts of Worcester back in 2020.

But since then, the streets have been left untarmacked - leaving the posh estate a "complete eyesore" and looking "like a bomb has hit it. "

Some locals say they have stopped their children playing out along the "unsafe" streets where drivers have to navigate raised drains, potholes and traffic cones.

Colin Jones, 68, moved into his £400,000 home on of Oakmont Drive in September 2020, but said his dream retirement property soon turned into "a nightmare".

The former mechanic said: “This was supposed to be our retirement home, but instead my wife and I are living on a glorified building site.

"This whole shambles has made a lovely area look like a bomb has hit it.

"The road layout is not suitable, it is narrowed down to restrict speed but it is likely to cause accidents.

"There is a corner which is too narrow and too tight so a driver cannot see traffic coming towards them in the opposite direction.

“So many people walk up this street with pushchairs or on bikes, but the raised drains of up to four inches high make it such a tight squeeze for people to get around."

Mr Jones said he was concerned about the danger the roads poses to families and children, especially with a local school located at the back of the estate.

He also claimed Elan Homes' work along the streets, where property prices average £500,000, has been constantly delayed by Worcestershire County Council.

He added: “I’ve tried to contact the council so many times, but they blame the builders who then blame the council and I feel like I’m going around in circles.

“They don’t seem to care and there’s always an excuse.

"Every time Elan builders plan to tarmac the road, work is halted by the Worcestershire County Council Highways department.

“All this delay just really wears you down to the point where I’m questioning what the council have against this estate."

Mr Jones says the council are constantly finding faults as an excuse not to fix the road with a neighbouring estate being tarmacked once - but then later removed and redone at more expense.

He now fears if he ever wanted to relocate, he would struggle to sell the property due to the state of the roads.

Mr Jones said: "Worcester Highways just keep finding more and more faults.

"Three or four times we've been told the road is going to be laid, but every time, on the day before or sometimes even the same day, they (Worcester Highways) have turned up and stopped it.

""It'll be excuses like the kerbing isn't straight even though they're the ones who marked it.

"In the end, that had to all be taken up and redone which was more money wasted.
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