We hate newbuild homes that have been left to rot for three YEARS – they’re ruining our picturesque village
RESIDENTS in a picturesque village have slammed a row of unfinished new-build houses as they are left to rot.
The row of six terraced houses on the former Red Lion pub car park in Bollington, Cheshire, have never been lived in.
The ceilings have come down in two of them, three are plagued by mould and residents say the roofs have blown off at times.
It is understood the company who originally owned the site, Cheshire Acres, went into liquidation shortly after the homes were completed in 2020.
The site is now owned by Moorfields Corporate Recovery.
The houses have remained empty because of problems with building regulations and insurance claims over severe flood damage.
They were built on the site of a former tip which leaves the open at risk of asbestos contamination.
‘FRUSTRATING’
One couple, who want to remain anonymous, said they have been left seething after they almost exchanged on one of the properties when they were first built, only for it to stall at the last minute.
They said: “We spent four or five months waiting to move in and ended up pulling out because we had had enough.
“We spent money on it, we lost money on it, and they are absolutely ripping people off.
“They can not get the building signed off by building control, they should never have built houses on the site of a tip.
“They have not sold one but the amount of people who have spent and spent and spent. They should not be allowed to be marketing them.”
They said the empty properties are dragging down the look of the pretty village.
And the couple were frustrated people are being “duped” into buying properties they believe won’t ever be ready to live in.
They said: “It is affecting the value of our own property.
“They keep changing the name to try and dupe people who don’t live in the area to come and buy one. It’s so frustrating. We are seething.”
Resident Dave Beckett, 43, who works in recruitment said: “It’s just a shame.
“I have been living here for a few months – It was such a beautiful view before, but I never saw it.
“The roof has been off twice and I just think it’s ugly.”
Neighbour Xavier Patterson, 61, shares his concerns.
He said: “It’s a bit of an eyesore, people are perplexed about how badly it’s constructed. It is incredibly badly built.
“I do have concerns about it – it’s not going to get better unless something is done about it.
“I don’t think the houses should be left in such a state of disrepair.”
EYESORE
Another resident, who lives directly opposite the development, also described it as “an eyesore.”
She says: “The quality of the workmanship is extremely poor, it’s an eyesore.
“We wanted to live in a conservation area but they have not abided by conservation rules.
“How they got planning permission to build them we don’t know, they have built them in such an aesthetically displeasing manner.
“Who would want to buy one of those?”
A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: “The local planning authority is aware of the development on High Street, in Bollington.
“While the planning authority wishes to see unoccupied properties brought into use, it is the role of developers to ensure that developments are completed in accordance with planning approvals.
“When planning permission was granted under planning reference 10/2108M, the proposal was in accordance with the borough-wide development plan that was in force at that time.”
The Sun Online has contacted Moorfields Corporate Recovery for comment.
It comes after devastated homeowners who splashed out on £900,000 homes said they face financial ruin because of poor building standards.
And residents who were promised “stunning” £400,000 homes in a housing development were left fuming after struggling with hundreds of problems.