Broad Lea development residents seek legal action over issues

Homeowners on the Broad Lea development, consisting of Broad Lea Close and some homes on Oldbury Road, moved into their shared ownership properties in 2021.

Issues that residents say they have been facing include issues blocked drains, flooding in gardens, broken boilers and potholes on the main road.

Pictures of the roads show the potholes and pictures submitted to the Worcester News by homeowners show some of the issues.

The homeowners are at the end of their tether.

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Shaun Barnes, a homeowner on the development, said that what the people living on the development have gone through has been "horrific".

Shaun Barnes stood next to a shed that has been in place at the site for over a year on the communal grass. (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "We have been fobbed off at every turn after complying with everything they have asked for at every turn. It has been horrific.

"Every private home on the development is involved in this action and we want answers. We are well and truly fed up, it has been two and a half years of being lied to.

"We saw shared ownership as a great way to get onto the property ladder, it was sold to us as a good opportunity

"Unfortunately it has not been that, it has been extremely stressful and we feel like cash cows for massive companies."

The homeowners were given a 12-month defect period where they raised issues with the development.

They claim that in this time, barely anything was addressed, and after a 24-month defect period they are in the same situation.

Mr Barnes said: "Legal action is currently ongoing as it is the last thing we can try and do for a resolution.

"United Living and Platform have not met their own deadlines for sorting out the many issues so legal action is our last chance."

Before legal action was sought, a formal complaint was submitted on behalf of the homeowners on Friday, April 21.

Paula Heatley, New Homes Delivery Director at Platform Housing Group said, “Platform would like to thank the residents at Broad Lea for bringing their concerns to our attention.

"We understand their frustrations and are committed to working with them to try and resolve the issues raised.

"A plan is already in place to complete the agreed outstanding work, which has been shared with our customers.”

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A spokesperson for United Living said: "We are aware of the issues that have been raised by the residents and continue to work with our client, Platform, to resolve these issues."