Infrastructure and Quality Issues Plague £425k New Build Estate Over a Decade After Construction
Residents of Tadpole Garden Village in Swindon are grappling with persistent challenges related to unfinished infrastructure and property defects, raising significant concerns about the quality assurance processes in new build developments. These ongoing issues serve as a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls that new build homeowners should carefully consider during their property purchase journey.
The development, where properties command premium prices of up to £425,000, continues to face numerous complications despite being established over a decade ago. Current residents have catalogued a series of infrastructure deficiencies that significantly impact their daily lives. Beyond the immediately visible issues of unfinished roads and non-functioning street lights, residents are dealing with poorly planned infrastructure decisions, such as lampposts inconveniently positioned in driveways, which create ongoing accessibility challenges.
Within individual properties, homeowners report a concerning pattern of structural and finishing defects. These range from failing bathroom tiling and persistent leaks to more serious issues involving moisture control and condensation. In a particularly severe case, one property requires complete roof replacement, with the current tin roof needing to be substituted with slate tiles to address ongoing condensation problems. These issues highlight the importance of thorough pre-completion inspections and the potential long-term implications of overlooked defects.
The infrastructure problems plaguing the development extend far beyond cosmetic issues. Residents report that roads frequently require remedial work, with surfaces remaining unfinished and requiring repeated intervention. Drainage systems have proved inadequate, leading to problems in both public areas and private gardens. The absence of essential safety features such as road markings and pedestrian crossings has raised concerns about resident safety, particularly for families with children. The positioning of street furniture, including lampposts, appears to have been poorly planned, creating obstacles and inconvenience for homeowners.
Jacob Davies, whose parents invested £425,000 in their property in 2018, exemplifies the frustration felt by many residents. "They keep saying they are going to do the roads and it is just frustrating. They are constantly working on something," he explains. His experience includes dealing with both external infrastructure issues and internal property defects, including a problematic lamppost placement that impacts his property's accessibility and a series of maintenance issues requiring multiple interventions.
The situation has reached such a critical point that over 400 residents felt compelled to sign a petition in 2022, demanding that Swindon Borough Council provide transparent timelines and plans for current and future development work. While Crest Nicholson, the developer, has acknowledged these concerns and promised that infrastructure works are "underway and will be completed in a phased approach," residents remain sceptical given the history of delays and unresolved issues.
The experiences of Tadpole Garden Village residents underscore several crucial lessons for prospective new build buyers. First, it highlights the vital importance of securing detailed timelines and commitments from developers regarding both property-specific and infrastructure works before completion. Second, it demonstrates the value of professional snagging inspections that can identify potential issues before they become long-term problems. Finally, it emphasises the need for buyers to consider not just their individual property, but also the wider development infrastructure that will impact their daily lives and property values.
Matt Pordy, a resident of five and a half years, captures the frustration felt by many: "It is atrocious - no one gets back to you. The roads have only been done - they are too narrow." His experience, along with those of his neighbours, serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of due diligence and proper documentation when purchasing a new build property.
