ROAD RAGE
Our newbuild homes are ruined by three-year row between builders and council… it’s destroying our lives
FED-UP homeowners on a newbuild estate have been waiting three years for builders and council chiefs to settle a bizarre row.
Those living in the beleaguered estate in Worcestershire complained the roads were left littered with potholes - damaging any hopes of selling their homes in future.
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They describe the area as looking like a "glorified building site" despite paying between £400,000 and £600,000 for their properties on the outskirts of Worcester.
Roads have gone without tarmac, with plenty of potholes uncovered - prompting parents to stop their children from playing outdoors in the "unsafe" streets.
Raised drains and strewn traffic cones have also left the estate appearing a "complete eyesore" and "like a bomb has hit it", homeowners say.
They blame an apparent dispute between developers Elan Homes and Worcestershire County Council over carrying out the works.
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Colin Jones, 68, moved into a £400,000 home on Oakmont Drive in September 2020 but says what he hoped to be his "dream" property has instead become "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.
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"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 4in high make it such a tight squeeze for people to get around."
Mr Jones raised concerns about potential road dangers to families and children, especially with a local school at the back of the estate.
He also claimed Elan Homes' work had been delayed by the 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."
He now fears if he ever wanted to relocate, he would struggle to sell his home due to the poor state of the surrounding roads.
Mr Jones said: "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."
'NOT SAFE FOR CHILDREN'
Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's been a nightmare from day one - it's just been delay after delay and the roads are still not finished.
"The work was supposed to be done by last year and still we are left with this eyesore.
"It's not safe for children and is also damaging people's cars.
"You shouldn't fork out half a million pounds for a house and be left with streets from the Stone Age."
Elan Homes said: “It’s usual practice for remedial works to the drainage systems and roads to be carried out after the final home on a development is occupied.
"This is then followed by final surfacing, working from inside the site outwards.
"Remedial works at our Stableford development are ongoing. Delays with these works were unfortunately exacerbated by materials and labour shortages.
"We apologise for any inconvenience to residents and remain committed to completing the drainage and highways works in accordance with agreements with the relevant authorities.”
A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the developer is undertaking significant remedial work onsite at the request of the county council, to ensure the finished development meets the required Highway standards.
"Once these are completed we can look to adopt the highway.”
The Worcester homeowners are far from the only UK residents left frustrated and disappointed by their newbuild homes.
People who paid £580,000 on "luxurious" Taylor Wimpey newbuilds in Yarm, North Yorkshire, say their walls are cracking and they've been locked out of their park.
Outraged residents in Holbeck and Seafront in Leeds have labelled theirs "maddening", with walls so thin they can hear "everything next door at all hours".
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Angry homeowners in Crewe in Cheshire accused developers of building on potentially-contaminated land.
Builders in Bestwood in Nottingham have faced claims of turning neighbours' lives into a nightmare, blocking driveways and making a racket as they put up new homes.
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