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

Starbabe6

There is a building restriction (I can’t remember what it was exactly) but it’s something to with the distance from the front door to the road, it has to be a minimum of 100cm or something. Someone with more building regs knowledge would maybe know it, but they couldn’t take another step away because of it. I suspect we could rotate a step at some point at our own cost. To clarify, both of those plans were provided after purchase. We had the standard plans of boundaries etc before we purchased but I will be honest, and this is perhaps our downfall, but we did not believe we would have to mock up or learn manoeuvre mathematics to get a Ford Focus into our space. It was built by a well known builder and we just trusted that they knew what they were doing. My post is about where do I go from here? Maybe its nowhere? I just cannot believe a house builder can build a house with a driveway you can’t get on & that’s our fault; it was not fit for purpose - and proved to the Company when their own staff couldn’t make it on, which they now deny. It all just seems very unfair. 

[Deleted User]

Starbabe6 said:

There is a building restriction (I can’t remember what it was exactly) but it’s something to with the distance from the front door to the road, it has to be a minimum of 100cm or something. Someone with more building regs knowledge would maybe know it, but they couldn’t take another step away because of it. I suspect we could rotate a step at some point at our own cost. To clarify, both of those plans were provided after purchase. We had the standard plans of boundaries etc before we purchased but I will be honest, and this is perhaps our downfall, but we did not believe we would have to mock up or learn manoeuvre mathematics to get a Ford Focus into our space. It was built by a well known builder and we just trusted that they knew what they were doing. My post is about where do I go from here? Maybe its nowhere? I just cannot believe a house builder can build a house with a driveway you can’t get on & that’s our fault; it was not fit for purpose - and proved to the Company when their own staff couldn’t make it on, which they now deny. It all just seems very unfair. 

When you are buying off-plan, TNO (Trust No One) and expect the worst. You believed into their dream home vision and now there is consequences. Buying off-plan is always a GAMBLE.

Sea_Shell

So to cut to the chase.....how much compensation are you after?

You can now, with the loss of the lawn now get your car on your driveway, and I assume you otherwise want to stay in the house, so what amount of £££ would you feel would "make things right" ?

Cash-Cows

I'm curious to know what the dimensions are of the drive wall to wall between plots and also the dimension between the building line and the dwarf wall. 

Cash-Cows

Have you read the documents submitted in the planning application? There will usually be a response from the council's highways officer. Approach can differ from authority to authority but most check space dimensions and access. 

Norman_Castle

Not sure how to deal with the builder but moving the step would make it easier and I'd fit a rubbing strip to the wall to lessen the damage when you clip it.

getmore4less

Using plans supplied by the builder?
You need to get onto the council planning portal and check everything from the initial outline planning.
Builders often start with something acceptable then sneak through amendments that don't get the same scrutiny.
if your council is one that used the map interface it can be easy to find all the relevant applications.

AdrianC

Starbabe6 said:

princeofpounds said:
There is no front garden on the plan. I can see why they developer is taking the stance they are now.

I am not understanding your comment. There was a front garden, a lovely one with turf that is now tarmac; with the nice front garden (I posted a picture of it),

Before and after of the garden. The extra tarmac length is clearly visible with the line across the tarmac in the "after" pic.

I'm struggling to see what the extra length - there's no width difference - adds to the manoeuvre, I have to admit.

Starbabe6

Sea_Shell said:

So to cut to the chase.....how much compensation are you after?

The answer is not a lot - but some as a recognition they made an error. However, as a company they ‘don’t do compensation’ and continue (after 12 months) to deny any error. But, they did offer a low 3 figure sum to cover the cost of ‘loss of turf’. Again, not compensation & admitting no error, just covering the cost of the tarmac’d turf. 

The Council are due a site visit, as they say the plans they approved didn’t show the low level wall, and if it had, it wouldn’t of been approved for this reason but the builder has closed the case. 

Norman_Castle

AdrianC said:

I'm struggling to see what the extra length - there's no width difference - adds to the manoeuvre, I have to admit.

Without it the front wheel is in line with the step.