Council refuse to adopt road

Dcd1983

I purchased a new build in a large development almost 4 years ago and since then there has been two more phases which have now just finished.
All roads within the development were and still are to be adopted by the council, however after calling them today and asking when the roads are to be adopted, their response was “we have no intention of adopting them any time soon as we don’t have the money to do so”.
Is this right? The council have admitted that they are supposed to adopt them but are saying they won’t or can’t for possibly years to come due to having no money. The developers are all but packed up and shipped out now that everything’s finished and I very much doubt they’ll be back to fix road issues should they arise given that the council have admitted they’re supposed to adopt them.

NeilCr

This might help

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00402/SN00402.pdf

Afaik councils don't "have" to adopt a private road. Different councils do seem to have different policies so may be worth reading what your council actually says on it's website.

Are you currently paying service charges? These could include a provision for upkeep and maintenance of the roads.

xylophone

All roads within the development were and still are to be adopted by the council,

This was a formal guarantee when you bought the property? Or a mere hope or expectation?

Dcd1983

The council (even today) told me that they will be adopting all roads within the development but because they have no money left they are not going to do so for considerable time and they said this will likely not be for a few years.

davidmcn

Dcd1983 wrote: »

The council (even today) told me that they will be adopting all roads within the development but because they have no money left they are not going to do so for considerable time and they said this will likely not be for a few years.

Waiting a few years isn't uncommon. And shouldn't be of concern as a newly-built road isn't likely to need maintenance for some time.

comeandgo

Thirteen years later and our roads are not adopted. Our last house also did not have the roads adopted. Gritters and road sweepers still visit.

Dcd1983

Hopefully not but I’m also thinking about things such as street lamps and who’s fixing those if nobody’s laying claim? Also, there is a new bus route to go through the development so who’s fitting the bus stop, markings and so forth.

davidmcn

Check the planning docs - quite likely that the developer is responsible for anything needed to get a bus route set up. Council wouldn't want to adopt it and then immediately spend money on markings etc.