Whilst I understand your point and have no doubt the the people that also lacked ambition and ended up as developers, planning officals, etc. do indeed make rules that end up with badly designed housing estates.

If indeed the amount of space for parking is dictated why do builders build garages that you cannot park a car in? Also, given that the is no minimum or maximum width requirement for a driveway, why do builders make then only wide enough to open the doors on one side of the car if you park right over to one side of the driveway?
To consider todays building industry as a profession is completley inappropriate.

There is absolutly no doubt the the low standard of building firms result in many a disgruntled new home owner.
I own a Barrat home and have had the most pathetic conversations with the company. I had many letters from them insisting that they would be building in accordance with the plans, despite there being a clear discrepancy.
In short the garage slab was too high, the house slab too low, the pavement too high, the drive way sloped too much and the drainage was in the worng place. In addition the plan for parking was poorly thought through as were the road widths. It’s the residence that have to live with these failings.
So despite the plans actually being well designed for managing surface water, waste water, etc. the implementation meant that the plan was no longer effective. This is the builders fault.

I believe we have every right to blame the building companies for the low quality of modern builds. The rules may well be wrong but the building firms have the ability to drive change into the rules. THey choose not to because it will affect their profits.

I have a question you may be able to answer for me!
We currently have a Barratt home the problem is that a neighbour has decided to complain about cars parking on the curb opposite our house.

The cars are not obstructing traffic however they are particially on the curb!

My question is… is there anything within building regulations or deeds to property that says we are unable to do this?

We are under a management company within the estate (not that they are of any use!)

Regards!

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.