Play Area

[Diz]

We purchased a new build property two years ago and were told that no play area would be on the estate, we have since found out that a play area is being placed in the Public Open Space right outside our house in the next few weeks. Does anybody know if there is any action we can take against the builder? They have admitted lying to us and other residents and we all feel like we have been mis-sold our properties. Will the effect the price of our home when we want to sell?

[bednobs]

hi, Will they have to apply for planning permission, or was it in their original plans? If it was in their original plans, why didnt you/your solicitor see it? If they have to apply then you will have a chance to voice your objections.
As to whether it will affect your house prices i guess it depends on whether the person buying it sees having a play area as a nusiance or a benefit.
Bear in mind that 2 years is a long time and it may be that the builders didnt have any plans for a play area then, but do now

[Diz]

Thanks for your reply bednobs, the play area was in the original plans, unfortuately they kept it hidden from us. It did not appear in any of the searches and our solicitor did not mention anything (we used a solicitor recomended by them so perhaps this was not a good idea). We did ask the builder if there was a play area going on the development and they told us there was no play area on the site, we have since received plans of the play park which are dated six months before we purchsed our house.

[buildersmate]

These plans that you have got hold of - are they the same plans that were used at Planning Application stage for the overall scheme development? - if so they were a public document and should have shown up on the Local Search.
Developers don't put extra money into putting up play areas because they are magnanamous, they do it because the Planner make them do it. I'll be surprised if it wasn't determined during the original scheme layout. This is the point at which the whole area of the development is carved up into plots for sale to punters, plus land that will become either part of the public highway or owned by the local authority as amenity land.

[Diz]

Thanks for your reply buildersmate, you are correct it was the planners that stated that the builders have to put they play area in, but we and other neighbours specifically asked the builder, knowing that this was a possiblity, if a play area was going on the development and were told a definate no, we have paperwork from the builder with - play park n/a on it