We paid up to £400k for our dream newbuild homes but what we got is a nightmare
RESIDENTS who forked out £400,000 on dream newbuild homes say they got a nightmare instead.
Homeowners who purchased property inside the Buttercup Leys estate in Boulton Moor, Derbyshire, say their gardens are riddled with glass, rubble and four-inch nails.
One local woman, Jo, says they had to dig up items from their garden and resurface it themselves, the reports.
She said: "We used to have hedges lined up protecting our privacy a bit from the road but kids have pulled them up. And all the time I’m picking up dog poo on the front lawn.
"We also found glass, massive four-inch nails, and rubble in our garden when we first moved in."
Jo's daughter, who asked not to be named, says the estate has "been built on broken promises".
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The playground near the site was too dangerous to take their kids to because of nearby water and large rocks.
She said: “The park was initially unsafe for kids with big boulders and a waterway right next to it. My kids are feral, that’s not safe."
But she is happy with the location and is looking forward to the community coming together.
The woman added: "The location’s great. We are near the M1, and the estate is developing a nice community spirit that wasn’t here before.
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"The best bit about the place is during Halloween, there’s a little jitty that’s turned spooky for the kids. They do make that effort for the kids.”
But one mum says amenities are difficult to access as shops are still under construction.
Shona Powell, 33, said she's relying in-part on the milkman twice a week.
The mum, who stays at home of her son Eesha, who is seven, uses the Co-op but "it's not easy access".
She said: "It would be worse if I didn’t have the car. Currently I have to have the milkman come down on Mondays and Thursdays.
“If we are missing something for dinner we have to go quite the way, as I say it’s lucky I drive."
She says it's also frustrating her doors are always getting getting stuck.
Shona said she's a bit nervous to see what comes from the development.
She said: “It’s going to be quite busy with the supermarket, assisted living, and community centre to come.
"I’m a bit worried especially about the community centre as they can be quite busy with parties and things."
'NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY'
But others who have moved in say they are enjoying the new space.
Dariusz Szwedo, 29, owns a commercial photography business and lives with his dog, Odin.
He said: “It’s actually been really smooth, I find it absolutely fine. Like any other new house we were expecting some snags, but there’s been nothing out of the ordinary."
A spokesperson from Persimmon Homes said issues have been fixed quickly and the majority of residents have been happy.
They said: “We strive to rectify any matters raised with us as quickly as possible and are disappointed if our service fell short on this occasion."
Regarding claims of water being near the playground, the spokesperson said the issue was rectified.
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The person said: "The open space being referred to is fenced off around the boundary for safety reasons, but is adjacent to a sustainable urban drainage system which is a requirement of the local authority to provide adequate draining of the site.
"Following the opening of this play area and subsequent settlement of the soil, some larger stones did come to the surface, but this was dealt with promptly by our contractor.”