Bought a new build off plan but couldn't access driveway!

Starbabe6

We bought a new build in June 2019 off plan. Once it was built it was immediately clear that due to poor planning, you could not get the majority of vehicles on and off
the drive (have email where Site Manager admitted he couldn’t get his own vehicle on). Site agreed these things don’t come to light until estates are built and tarmac’d over our front garden, which we weren’t thrilled about but needed driveway access. It remains tight to manoeuvre and the home builder accept no responsibility for building a new home with access so tight you couldn’t get on and off the driveway. We made a formal complaint, two members of their staff had tried and failed to the complete the manoeuvres shown on the plans, but then lied about it when asked by Head Office. They have refused to come back and prove me wrong. I have emails proving one member of Management has lied during a formal review, which they will not acknowledge, won’t accept any of my photograph evidence, and have fobbed us off. My neighbours are also unhappy. Our solicitor says they breach the Consumer Code as the driveway was not 'fit for purpose' but they insist it was (despite all evidence provided). NHBC say its nothing to do with them, as it outside of the property. 
I cannot believe this large company can just ignore this, please help me and my neighbours get them to admit fault, as when it comes to resell the tightness of parking will put off buyers and we lost the amenity of the front garden, which was one the reasons we chose to purchase this house. 

societys_child

Has your solicitor not suggested anything?

Perhaps a letter before action would be a starting point?

comeandgo

You mention that you can't get the majority of vehicles on and off.  Which ones can you get?  Our drive we can only get 4x4s  on and off and in a close housing scheme the garages do not accommodate most cars, the cars go in but the drivers can't get out, no space.  This won't help you other than to point out these things happen.

Starbabe6

Our solicitor is at a loss, because they will not accept there was an error and we don't wish to keep paying him when the builder just parrots the same 'built to plan', not accepting the plan was wrong, and they won't come on to site with a car of the length shown in the plans to prove me wrong (because we would be proved right I suspect....). I have a Ford Focus and it was very very tight and had to drive in, and reverse out with a 10 (ish) point-turn then reverse the length of our road (as there is no where to turn!). Our T5 (SWB so shorter than many estate cars) stood no chance. The staff who tried had an Audi estate and he couldn't reverse out (as per plan) without guidance from my husband - he now denies this obviously. We know a buyer who turned down the next door (identical house) and she has a Fiat 500!!! 

diego_94

This is why you shouldn’t buy new builds. Shoddy builders who just want money.

ProDave

I would be interested to see a picture of what is causing the issue. 

cymruchris

What would it take to make it useable? Additional tarmac? (With loss to your turfed garden space?) What would need to happen to make it acceptable in your own view?

Starbabe6

The problem is this wall, restricting space to manouvre. They put tarmac on the front garden to allow a turning space and moved the wall 30cms into the footpath to allow more swing space, but its still pretty tight. This photo is taken before any amendments and shows just narrow the road was, and how making the turn into the driveways wasn't thought out. The plan shows a manoeuvre that would only be possible if the car could turn on the spot. If you drove in, to get get far enough to turn the nose the rear bumper was pretty much at the wall, and trying to reverse in there wasn't enough turning space, hence they took the front garden to make space. They claim the two amendments they did were to 'ease our parking concerns' and to 'accommodate' us, when actually, the road was so narrow you couldn't get the angle to turn on and off the driveways! In the second photo I have driven as far forward as possible to attempt to reverse into the driveway (which they say can be done) and quite clearly can't, the angle is waaaaaay off, there was nowhere for my nose to swing due to the wall. It is now 'useable', but tight, and will affect resale. We have lost the front garden and think the builder should acknowledge this, that there was a clear planning error, and the fact a member of their staff clearly lied. 

Starbabe6

It was too tight. The staff member that tried himself was driving in, but again there was no space to get the turn nose in. 

Slithery

Reverse down the road and it looks pretty easy.

Unicorn_cottage

Never buy new build. If anything goes wrong you are literally up sh*t creek without a paddle.