Residents are frustrated over “shoddy” landscaping and unfinished work.
Residents in Stanway claim the landscaping and maintenance around Reg Hilham Walk, Church Lane, Tollgate Road, and Martin Hunt Drive have failed to be delivered properly.
They say the area is blighted by dead trees, empty planting pits, overgrown weeds and neglected green spaces.
Persimmon Homes and Cala Homes built the Lakelands Estate development in the 2010s.
Residents say the landscaping falls short of the approved plans after they reviewed the landscape management plan and Section 106 agreement.
After the site was finished, it was then handed over to Colchester Council which now owns the estate.
The council issued a statement of completion in 2022 – confirming all trees were planted as per planning.
One resident claims Reg Hilham Walk should have 24 trees.
Only two are alive, 17 are dead and five have been removed, leaving empty holes.
In Church Lane, there should be around 35 trees, but only seven are alive, five have been removed, and 23 appear not to have been planted.
Residents are upset over the condition of the landscaping despite homeowners paying £150 to £200 a year in management fees.
It is understood some of the missing trees could be due to vandalism in the area.
Marketing manager Kevin Downton, 63, moved to Stanway in 2018 with wife Julie, and is leading the call for change.
Read more
-
Pensioners have their say on PM's proposed change to state pension
-
Colchester to get new bus station... at former Queen Street site 14 years on
-
BBC returns to 750-year-old antiques centre to film Essex episode
-
School boss releases statement amid 'no touching' policy backlash
He said: “The frustration for ourselves and other residents is that we’re paying services fees and not getting value for money. We’re getting a very poor landscaping service, not in compliance with planning. It is shoddy.
“Any work that is completed is done to a very poor level of service.
“I believe the residents and homeowners have been treated with scant disregard from the planners, I don’t believe the developer is complying with planning.”
Christopher Rennie, 35, moved into the estate with his young family in 2017 and lives next to Tollgate Road.
Previous planning documents say five trees should have been planted on the grass between his home and the road as a buffer.
Mr Rennie said: “In all honesty, it is completely diabolical. It is terrible.
“When we have family members come round, we never tell them to come through the front because it looks completely embarrassing.
“It’s not what we were sold by the developers Persimmon Homes. This isn’t what the brochures looked like whatsoever - we feel really let down.
“Planning consent was approved on five trees being planted, there is only one there, but it has no life whatsoever.
“Because we are right by the main road, rush hour in particular is so noisy, and we’ve got three young kids.”
Mr Downton says he raised the landscaping problems with the management company but was told the developer was responsible.
He wants law changes giving residents control and telling them what landscaping has been approved when they buy a home.
He claims Persimmon Homes should complete the landscaping approved for the estate.
Mr Downton said: “People buying homes are being mis-sold because you are shown a glossy brochure, they have beautiful landscaping, and that’s your dream.
“Our demand, which is reasonable, is to give us what was promised in the planning. We just want what we believed we were being given.
“We also want value for money for our service fees.”
Stanway county councillor Andrew Harding said: “Holding developers and their agents to account and to the signed contract is vital to our community wellbeing.”
Mr Downton has contacted Colchester Council over alleged planning breaches.
He is continuing his campaign locally and nationally through newbuildrealitycheck.co.uk.
A Persimmon Homes spokesperson said: "The landscaping and planting along Reg Hilham Walk was completed in line with our planning permission for Lakelands Phase 2.
"This area was transferred to Colchester Council in 2022 and we hold a certificate of completion confirming that all works were carried out in line with the approved plans.
"Since the transfer, responsibility for the maintenance and management of the area rests with the council."
A spokesperson for Colchester Council said: "The council is currently considering the matters raised regarding landscaping at the Lakelands Estate.
"As this work is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this stage."
A spokesperson for Sapphire which provides landscaping services in the area, said: "A lot of these are historic issues that predate our appointment at the site.
"We have been working with the residents and the council to investigate the issues concerning the grounds.
"The adverse weather conditions in the last few years have unfortunately not helped the situation, however, nevertheless we are committed to facilitating a workable solution with all parties concerned. "
Share