Persimmon Development in Dorset Draws Furious Residents' Ire
It's an image straight out of a post-apocalyptic film: incomplete roads, hazardous pavements, and piles of rubble; all symptoms of what the new residents of the Corelli housing development are calling a total eyesore. Built by the building firm Persimmon South West, this estate in Sherborne, Dorset, is now facing scrutiny from both angry homeowners and the local council.
The Residents' Nightmare
Residents are more than frustrated with their newly-built houses on an estate filled with unappealing scenes of soil heaps, piles of building material, and unfinished roads. Gardens are strewn with rubbish, grass has been left to overgrow, and pavements are dangerously cracking. Safety concerns are escalating with issues of unsafe fencing and incomplete streetlighting. All of these problems paint a picture of an estate in disarray.
Kevin Graham, a local resident, shared his dismay: "After close to 10 years on site, developers have now left the estate with incomplete infrastructure and disregard for cleanliness. We face blocked drains, discarded building material, and even dangerous metal grid fencing. It's simply unacceptable."
Council's Intervention
With the situation reaching a boiling point, Dorset Council is taking action. Negotiations are ongoing with Persimmon South West, with legal action on the table if the many issues are not promptly addressed.
Councillor Jon Andrews did not mince words when describing the current state, slamming the building firm and expressing how residents are "fed up" of looking at abandoned building materials. Ward councillor Richard Crabb also criticised the building contractors for taking "far too long" to finish the ten-year project.
Persimmon South West's Response
Persimmons South West has been the primary builder for the Corelli estate, constructing over 450 homes, the majority of which are occupied. The firm's plans to build further properties at the site have run into obstacles due to nitrate issues impacting local water quality, known as nutrient neutrality.
A spokesperson for the firm sought to provide reassurance to the concerned residents: "We would like to reassure residents that we have not left the Corelli development and fully intend to complete the site to the highest standard. We have agreed to a programme of works with a contractor to address the issues highlighted."
A Complex Issue
The problem seems far from simple, with planning issues and delayed work. Residents are also being charged substantial maintenance fees to a private management company, despite the lack of proper upkeep.
"This has been going on for 18 months. It's just wrong; they have a responsibility," Councillor Andrews lamented. He further stated his disbelief at the situation, saying, "If I was a builder, I would not want to sell those houses."
A Path Forward?
Persimmon South West has promised to return to the site to remove all waste and has issued an apology to the residents, pledging to complete roads, footpaths, public open spaces, and the removal of spoil and waste on site.
But for the families of Corelli, words mean little without action. With more than 400 homes in a state of incompleteness, the angry voices of residents continue to grow louder, expecting not just promises, but actual results.
The Corelli development situation serves as a stark reminder to both developers and potential homeowners about the critical importance of proper planning, execution, and communication in housing development. The eyes of the community, the nation, and possibly even the world, are now on Persimmon South West to see how they navigate this complex situation and restore trust with the residents who invested in their vision. Only time will tell if the nightmares of Corelli can be turned into dreams.
