Barratt Homes Queens Hills Estate Norwich Help!

skemp1

Good Evening,

I hope someone can help, please read my plight:

In March 2010 we bought a 3 bed 3 story house on the Queens Hills development in Norwich.

After buying the house we discovered that the land owner (cofton) of the development went bust in April 2009 and the land was now owned by the administrator (deloittes).

When we were buying the house we were told that a community center, arcade of shops, takeaways etc....... would be built in specific areas. As well as football pitches, children's play areas, and a maintained country park.

The estate however is turning into a shambles, deloittes will not spend any money and the roads are quite dangerous as they have not been adopted by the council either and have raised iron works and the paths are in a bad state. We now have a problem with travellers on our estate and they have bought around 15 horses that roam the country park and because the land is private the council are powerless to evict them.

The "country park" is not maintained in anyway and has loads of rubbish everywhere that has been left by the travellers that occupied before.

The situation is unacceptable and our house value is dropping because of it. If I had know that it would be like this I would have never bought the house in the first place. It is a nightmare.

Were barratts obliged to tell me about this? Do I have any chance of getting compensation for this as I would like to move out but because of the value lost in the house I am unable to sell.

Please help!

poppy10_2

Shared equity too? Ouch. Hey, at least you're on the property ladder.

GDB2222

I'm sorry it's been such a nightmare for you. It's one of the reasons I wouldn't buy a new home off plan. Maybe the last home on a new estate, but not the first one. Hopefully, at some stage, the administrators will find a buyer for the rump of the estate who will finish it off. That's assuming that there are enough empty plots to sell to make that financially worthwhile.

The worst case scenario is that the community centre and so on were an integral part of the planning application, and as those have not been completed your house's planning status may be uncertain. I do not know whether the council will take enforcement action against you, though.

I am unclear about whether your contract was with Barratt or with the company that is in administration. I suggest that you take all your paperwork off to a solicitor and get paid-for advice, as otherwise nothing is going to change. Perhaps you could form a neighbourhood fund? If you get together say 50 homes and you each contribute say £2-3k you might have enough money to get something done.

rose79

We are as mad with Queens Hills as you. Did you get a flyer through your door from the Legal company? We sent them around the estate on behalf of only two of us who want to start legal proceedings. Please get in touch. It is not a scam. We have had sevearl meetings with the council, have had several phonecalls with Deloittes and feel it is the negligence of South Norfolk District Council, Taylor Wimpey and the rest, Deloittes and Cofton who are to blame. The legal action started with two couples and has risen dramatically since Monday after the flyers went out. Ring the solicitor and join us, please. If you bought after 2009, you should have been told about the issues up here by your solicitor and your developer. Please spread the word to other residents too.
Regards
Queens Hills Resdients Group [EMAIL="QHresidents@gmail.com"]QHresidents@gmail.com[/EMAIL]

katie166

Is the situation any better now? I'm currently thinking of buying in the area as I've heard the community center site is now being cleared for building and things are starting to pick up? Also has there been any news on when the roads will be improved?
Many thanks for all info

skemp1

Yes it is better now.

The roads are being improved to the state where thay can be adopted and there are kids parks now.it is starting to progress and things are looking much better. Could do with some local shop, but it will come.

Community centre has been approved and the estate is being maintained properly now at least.

mmaark

Hi, Just been round looking to buy a new house on Queens Hills,
I was just wondering about the traffic etc? how busy does it get to get in and out of the estate (leaving approx. 8am, coming home approx. 5.30pm)
Is it a nice place to live? the house we have seen we like very much, and we are almost ready to buy.
Any other info would be great.
Many thanks, Mark.

Kevie192

Everything I've read says that at peak times (i.e. the times you mentioned) the traffic situation is a joke. There is only one road in and out and it is always completely queued.