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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alahna Kindred

'We paid £600,000 to live in dream homes but it's turned into a nightmare'

Residents living in £600,000 homes have told of their "nightmare" as their new development remains unfinished two years after they moved in.

They say they have a laundry list of faults that have not been fixed by Avant Homes including potholed roads, dangerous paths and a fenced-off playground.

The firm is facing fury for leaving "a catalogue of disaster" at Martin’s Reach estate in Wollaton, Nottingham.

Residents say they are forced to walk in the middle of the road because of the state of the paths at the 110-house estate.

One was reportedly rushed to hospital after tripping over while others have been forced to fork out to repair their cars which have been damaged by deep potholes.

Resident say the pavements and footpaths have been left in a terrible state (Nottingham Post/BPM Media)

New mum Rachel Hopkins, who has lived at the estate for just over two years, says she fears being run over by cars while taking her new baby out.

She said: "The paths are really bad when I'm pushing the pram.

“People have had trouble with wheelchair access too. I do not know when they are supposed to finish the estate.

“I have to sometimes push the pushchair on the road. It’s shocking.”

These allotments have been described as being left in a 'treacherous' state (Matthew Lofthouse / SWNS)

Avant Homes was given the green light to build the estate of one to five-bedroom homes ranging from £240,000 to £600,000, in 2019.

Nottingham City Council originally rejected the plans but the company successfully overturned the ruling after appealing to the Government's Planning Inspectorate.

In February, councillors ordered the firm to urgently complete the work but more than three months later the estate is still unfinished.

Another resident said: “Some people have paid £600,000 on their dream home but it’s like living on a building site, it’s a nightmare that never ends.

The kids play park at Wollaton housing estate has been left unfinished (Matthew Lofthouse / SWNS)

“Avant don’t give a monkey’s. Some of the roads and pavements are unusable, the play area is fenced off and there are cables and debris all over the place.

"The houses are lovely and all built to a good spec but if you want to walk or drive around the estate then you can forget it.

"I know someone who wrecked their new car on the potholes and one delivery driver refused to risk taking their truck down the road. It's a shambles."

Residents and the council have complained about the state of the development (Matthew Lofthouse / SWNS)

Another mum added: “I have had no communication with Avant whatsoever.

“A couple of weeks ago I saw some official-looking men in hi-visibility jackets and clipboards walking around the estate.

“I walked over and asked them if they were from the developers and they said they were coming up with a price to sort the roads.

“All I could think was ‘are they only at that point?’ The road is literally disintegrating beneath your feet.

Homeowners and councillors have once again expressed their frustration at a lack of communication from the developer (Matthew Lofthouse / SWNS)

“People living here fear that Avant is deliberately delaying doing anything because they know it’s going to cost them.”

Labour councillor for Wollaton, Steve Battlemuch, blasted the developers, saying the delays in completing the estate are "unacceptable".

He said: “The whole infrastructure of the estate is unfinished. All the roads and pavements are in such state residents physically can’t get around the estate.

Residents and the council have complained about the state of the development (Matthew Lofthouse / SWNS)

"Ever since this development was started there has been a catalogue of disasters.

“There have been a number of people who have fallen over and I know of one person who was taken to hospital as a result of their injuries.

“All of the houses are now occupied and Avant Homes have had months to finish the roads, pavements, play area and the allotment site.

“I’ve met them many times but their project managers are constantly changing and they just say ‘we’re getting up to speed’ and ‘we’re about to start the work’ but nothing ever gets done.

“I think legally we don’t have a big hold over them but I am asking our planning department to see what we can do to make sure they finish the work.

“I would like to see Avant Homes fined with the money going to the city council to invest in schemes for the public.

“I would urge councils around the country to ask Avant Homes to show their track record.”

An Avant Homes spokeswoman said: “We are currently in discussions with our contractors to progress the remaining works at our Martin’s Reach development.

"These include the allotments, resurfacing of roads and pavements, and footpath surfacing in the play park.

“These final works are due to commence in the coming weeks and will be completed in accordance with the obligations outlined in the approved planning permission.”

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