New build delayed as access road too narrow?

Ybe

Is it normal for a new build development to become delayed because the developer realised the private access road they built into the development is too narrow by 30cm to be legally compliant and now they have to widen in? 

user1977

I'm not sure why it being "normal" or not makes any difference, but it will need to be sorted.

ProDave

I can see the road being too narrow might be an issue if they are expecting the council to adopt it as a public road, but a bit of a fundamental mistake.

I can't see why they cannot continue building the rest of the estate while they sort out how to correct this.  Or are all the houses ready for completion and this is now delaying it?

gwynlas

Roads get widened all the time but if such fundamental mistakes are made what does this imply for remainder of development?

Hoenir

Mistakes happen. 

propertyrental

Mistakes are normal. Life!

daveyjp

Many reasons why this has happened.

• Its a genuine mistake
• The developer knew all along and decided to wing it, hoping no one knew how to use a tape measure.
• The developer was hoping to keep the road private, but it now has to be adopted and it isn't wide enough.
• The road was wide enough when designed, but a change in policy means it now isn't.

I know of one proposed housing development where design of the access road has taken almost 5 years.

Section62

ProDave said:

I can see the road being too narrow might be an issue if they are expecting the council to adopt it as a public road, but a bit of a fundamental mistake.

I can't see why they cannot continue building the rest of the estate while they sort out how to correct this.  Or are all the houses ready for completion and this is now delaying it?

In theory the council could put a stop notice on the development if the access road hasn't been constructed in accordance with the approved consent (regardless of whether the road will be adopted or not).

A council might want to do that if they have reason to believe the developer may carry on building the houses and sell them all off, and somehow never get round to fixing the problem with the road.

A stop notice would give the developer a financial incentive to get on with fixing the road issue without delay.

Alternatively this could be to do with an occupation restriction - the developer not completing the access road in accordance with the approved plan may prohibit occupation (/of more than a certain %age) of the dwellings on site.

ProDave

daveyjp said:

Many reasons why this has happened.

• Its a genuine mistake
• The developer knew all along and decided to wing it, hoping no one knew how to use a tape measure.
• The developer was hoping to keep the road private, but it now has to be adopted and it isn't wide enough.
• The road was wide enough when designed, but a change in policy means it now isn't.

I know of one proposed housing development where design of the access road has taken almost 5 years.

Or the developer knew the strip of land they own for access was not wide enough and they tried to wing it, but someone got a tape measure out.  Now they are in a ransom strip situation with whoever owns the extra 30cm needed asking an awful lot of money to sell it.

Ybe

To provide some context, I was told the extra 30cm is to comply with regs to allow emergency vehicles and bin Lorries to get in. From the planning docs I’ve seen online, they did a swept path analysis for that so I don’t know how it was missed. 

BobT36

I'd be worried about what else might not be to size!