Balancing pond on new build estate

krusty101

getmore4less said:

Check the planning there should be details of there of the implementation along with any onward plans by water authorities. 

It’s not clear and the searches have said they can’t say if there is a Sustainable Drainage System or not (there blatantly is) so I’ve gone back to our solicitor to get some more information. Thanks for all your help everyone 

Unicorn_cottage

krusty101 said:

Unicorn_cottage said:

What information has the house builder given you about paying for these costs? De-silting a pond can cost thousands.

Eek really?! There will be 100 properties when the site is finished. I’d better get asking then, thank you. 

Who is the management company?

krusty101

Unicorn_cottage said:

krusty101 said:

Unicorn_cottage said:

What information has the house builder given you about paying for these costs? De-silting a pond can cost thousands.

Eek really?! There will be 100 properties when the site is finished. I’d better get asking then, thank you. 

Who is the management company?

Mainstay residential ltd. Have just found something in an information booklet saying the balancing ponds will be maintained by the management company. Looks like the residents ‘own’ part of it though so I guess we can have some say in what we spend?? (See exert below)

MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND MANAGING AGENTS

13.1 The Developer has incorporated THE ROSEHIPS (LOWER HOWSELL ROAD) RESIDENTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED of Mainstay Residential Limited Whittington Hall, Whittington Road, Worcester, WR5 2ZX (Company Registration number 12202052) as a residents’ management company responsible for the maintenance and management of certain areas across the Development.

13.1.1 The Management Company will be limited by guarantee.

13.1.2 Limited by guarantee means that there will be no share capital. Instead each management charge plot, is by virtue of ownership deemed to have one membership in the Management Company.

13.1.3 Copies of the incorporation documents for the Management Company are enclosed.

13.1.4 If required, the Buyer is obliged to agree to serve as a director and/or secretary of the Management Company.

Unicorn_cottage

krusty101 said:

Unicorn_cottage said:

krusty101 said:

Unicorn_cottage said:

What information has the house builder given you about paying for these costs? De-silting a pond can cost thousands.

Eek really?! There will be 100 properties when the site is finished. I’d better get asking then, thank you. 

Who is the management company?

Mainstay residential ltd. Have just found something in an information booklet saying the balancing ponds will be maintained by the management company. Looks like the residents ‘own’ part of it though so I guess we can have some say in what we spend?? (See exert below)

MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND MANAGING AGENTS

13.1 The Developer has incorporated THE ROSEHIPS (LOWER HOWSELL ROAD) RESIDENTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED of Mainstay Residential Limited Whittington Hall, Whittington Road, Worcester, WR5 2ZX (Company Registration number 12202052) as a residents’ management company responsible for the maintenance and management of certain areas across the Development.

13.1.1 The Management Company will be limited by guarantee.

13.1.2 Limited by guarantee means that there will be no share capital. Instead each management charge plot, is by virtue of ownership deemed to have one membership in the Management Company.

13.1.3 Copies of the incorporation documents for the Management Company are enclosed.

13.1.4 If required, the Buyer is obliged to agree to serve as a director and/or secretary of the Management Company.

I would never ever get into such a situation. I used to work for a management company and it was awful. If it is a resident run management system there is always someone who is not willing to pay and the estate ends up looking like a dump! Terrible system.

Unicorn_cottage

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/mainstaygroup.co.uk

krusty101

I’m sufficiently panicked now thank you  
No really thank you for for your advice. Some thinking to do... 

getmore4less

krusty101 said:

getmore4less said:

Check the planning there should be details of there of the implementation along with any onward plans by water authorities. 

It’s not clear and the searches have said they can’t say if there is a Sustainable Drainage System or not (there blatantly is) so I’ve gone back to our solicitor to get some more information. Thanks for all your help everyone 

Don't rely on searches go to the planning applications for the site, they should be on line.
Go back as far as you can and read all the reports.

Might need to go through many planing applications to piece it all together. 

RelievedSheff

krusty101 said:

davidmcn said:

Doozergirl said:

dimbo61 said:

I get very nervous about ponds and kids full stop !
Why do they need the ponds ? 
New build estates with 3/4/5 bed houses so young children 
So are the ponds for drainage or to look pretty ?

They're to stop flooding.  Either across the estate or further downstream locally. 

Not necessarily "flooding" as we'd commonly call it, but more often to stop the foul sewers from overflowing into water courses when it rains.

Yes as you say, water courses. Just wondering about the longer term costs associated with them but maybe they’re a newish thing on new build estates. 

That depends on whether the local drainage authority has taken on the adoption of the basins or not. Severn Trent have taken ours over so we have no on going cost associated with the basin. We also don't pay the surface water part of our water bill as the surface water goes from the pond to the watercourse with no treatment.

RelievedSheff

davidmcn said:

Doozergirl said:

dimbo61 said:

I get very nervous about ponds and kids full stop !
Why do they need the ponds ? 
New build estates with 3/4/5 bed houses so young children 
So are the ponds for drainage or to look pretty ?

They're to stop flooding.  Either across the estate or further downstream locally. 

Not necessarily "flooding" as we'd commonly call it, but more often to stop the foul sewers from overflowing into water courses when it rains.

Foul and surface water are in two completely different systems on new build estates and have been for some time.

RelievedSheff

dimbo61 said:

I get very nervous about ponds and kids full stop !
Why do they need the ponds ? 
New build estates with 3/4/5 bed houses so young children 
So are the ponds for drainage or to look pretty ?

The ponds are there to attenuate the surface water from the estate. The water is stored in the basin and released at a designated rate into the existing surface water sewer system or a local watercourse.

New build estates have to use Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) as part of the process of gaining planning permission. The preferred method of providing this is a pond or detention basin which improves water quality but also improves biodiversity.

The basin on our estate is of a fair size and is in water all year round (some are designed to be dry and only hold water during wetter periods) it has lovely paths around it and woodland walks adjacent. There is no fencing to the pond and it has been designed and planted to look as natural as possible.