New home developers hire specialist planning consultants and designers that aim to maximise the profitability of every planned development by ensuring that the housing density is a high as possible. This impacts on many aspects of a development that make living there more enjoyable such as open spaces, play areas and the like. However, the one that causes the most problems with residents is the lack of parking. Visit any new build estate at the weekend when everybody is at home and people are entertaining visitors you will see what I mean.
I read this article earlier about a Barratt Homes estate where the residents are putting “polite notices” on cars stating that the road is private so visitors cannot park there. Although this is technically correct, it would be private for long and once the council has adopted it anybody can park there.
Here is the article:
]Estate agents Whitton and Laing have waded in over a row over parking at Norman Crescent.
Recently residents were being warned off becoming vigilante traffic wardens by cops after two drivers found notes on their parked cars saying the road was private.
Read more about this parking problem.
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Sirs:
Further to this article I feel it necessary to clarify the situation.
Firstly, of course developers employ experts and advisers. Show me a company that doesn’t. However, densities have far more to do with Government legislation (PPG3 now PPS3) than greed as you suggest. Planning advisers and architects work to set density parameters which are quite wide (eg 30-40 units per Ha). Regardless of what the public want to buy, developers are generally tied to build what the government dictate.
Secondly, with regard to parking. Again, the Planners dictate the amount of parking allowable per dwelling. On large developments we are generally allowed 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling. Considering the average family has a little over two cars sitting at home (in my experience it is more like 3+), you don’t have to be a mathematician to spot the problem even at planning stage – but rules is rules and we just build to them. Several developments I have been involved with have initially had ZERO parking allowance, or less than one space per dwelling. Guess which units were the last to sell…
I would respectfully suggest that, before you shoot the builder and tar them with the blame, try offering a balanced view by asking developers for comment.