According to its online marketing, St George’s Park is a place where ‘traditional elegance complements modern convenience and enduring design meets uncompromising craftsmanship’.
None of which applies to the horrendous roads in the upmarket estate where some houses sell for around £1 million, according to residents.
Routes around the private estate are so bad they have been likened to ‘the surface of the moon’, with residents and visitors complaining of tripping over potholes and damaging their cars.
All six roads on the development in Loddon, Norfolk, are uneven and cracked and pockmarked with holes. They also lack street markings and manholes stand proud of the road.
Kerbs beside pavements are ‘extremely high’ because of the lack of a final layer of Tarmac on the road surfaces.
Residents of the upmarket St George’s Park estate have complained that potholes make driving in the area feel like the ‘surface of the moon’
All six roads on the development in Loddon, Norfolk, are uneven and cracked and pockmarked with holes
John Wilson, 63, said that he had heard that there were problems with contractors. He said that the roads into the estate were ‘a bumpy ride’
Some homeowners who stumped up huge sums for the stylish two, three, four and five-bedroom homes have lived with the safety hazard for nearly five years.
South Norfolk Council says responsibility lies with developer Halsbury Homes – which has failed to respond to requests for a comment.
John Wilson, 63, an Amazon consultant who lives with his partner and their dog in a detached five-bedroom home, said: ‘We’ve been here 18 months. Everyone who’s asked for an update has been told it will be done but with no commitment as to when.
‘We’ve heard there have been problems with some of the contractors. The last we heard there’s a plot to the side of this one that’s due to have [the last] two houses built on the estate and the indication is the road will not be finished until they’re done.
‘But that’s not logical because the rest of the estate is not dependent on access to those two houses.’
He added: ‘It’s a bumpy ride. There’s shingle and stones in the holes and you get chips on the car. The road is uneven, so walking along it is not easy.
‘We’ve heard of people who have stumbled. Mind you, I’ve done that. Around the corner there’s a bit that’s been recently filled in but before that it was a crater which I have stumbled in.’
Darren Holmes, who arrived in 2019, said: ‘We’ve all got to know each other down here very quickly because we are all outraged by the treatment of Halsbury and the neglect they have shown.
The horrendous roads in the estate are said to have caused damage to homes, some of which sell for around £1m
Darren Holmes, a resident, said that he was ‘outraged’ by the state of the roads in the estate
‘It’s ridiculous. When all is said and done, all we want is a safe place to live, a place without craters similar to that of the moon,’ Mr Holmes added
‘It’s ridiculous. When all is said and done, all we want is a safe place to live, a place without craters similar to that of the moon. I can’t help but fear they will worsen when winter arrives.’
Penny Pullinger, who moved to the estate in May 2019, added: ‘It’s dangerous. There have been several stories of people hurting themselves on the unfinished roads.
‘My great nephew flew off his bike and in the last couple of months a couple of elderly people have fallen over. God forbid if someone were to seriously hurt themselves.
‘I don’t understand why nothing has been done about this. It’s a terrible look for Halsbury.
‘It’s an eyesore, looks unprofessional, and is a serious health hazard, all of which must reflect badly on them.’
Mother-of-two Sian Jackson, a resident along with her husband since February 2019, said they were ‘shocked’ at the state of the roads and pavements.
‘Pushing a buggy around here is fraught with danger. Only through trial and error have I learned safe routes,’ she said.
St George’s Park, which will have 180 homes when it is finished, is one of a number of new build estates springing up around Loddon, near Norwich
The poor state of the roads seen from overhead, which some residents say is dangerous and led to falls
Residents said they received a letter last year announcing that work on the roads was ‘due to commence’ – but contractors failed to materialise
‘I have heard countless stories of people falling and enough is enough.’
Midwife Pauline Turton, 60, who bought a house last year, complained: ‘It’s all loose stones and is uneven. I know a neighbour who twisted her ankle the other day just walking along here.’
St George’s Park, which will have 180 homes when it is finished, is one of a number of new build estates springing up around Loddon, which is about 12 miles south-east of Norwich.
The earliest reference to settlements in the area dates back to the 11th century and there is a 15th century church and an 18th century watermill. Monkeys band member Davy Jones lived there as a boy.
Residents said they received a letter from Halsbury in July last year announcing that work on the roads was ‘due to commence’ – but contractors failed to materialise.
A Halsbury Homes spokesman said: ‘The development is not finished, there are still units to be built.
‘It is normal to not top off the roads until all infrastructure is complete and adopted, and the site is complete. Once at that position the roads will be topped off and finished.’