Maghull MP Bill Esterson is backing homeowners who claim their dream newbuild homes are blighted by “shocking defects”.
New owners on the Poppy Fields estate off School Lane in Maghull say they have reported hundreds of “snags” to the housebuilder Persimmon on moving into their properties.
One resident was so concerned that he ordered an independent survey to be carried out on his property, which revealed 339 issues, including unsafe structural building regulation violations, large gaps in the roof at both gable ends, non-straight brickwork that doesn’t meet tolerance requirements, numerous leaks, toilet propped up on cardboard, holes in walls left unrepaired, sharp screws sticking out of every window frame, gaping openings over garage doors and air bricks missing.
The resident, Barry Newcombe, who lives in Heron Way and works as a Civil/Structural Draughtsman, said he had reported the problems to Persimmon but they either “do a botched job or just don’t do it at all”.
Mr Newcombe, who moved in to the property in May last year with his wife Stacey and their two daughters aged five and 10 weeks, told the MP: “In my opinion they do not provide a quality product or service and compared to the commercial developers I deal with on a daily basis they lack in technical know-how, safety awareness, quality systems and customer service.
“Persimmon’s attitude is a shrug of the shoulders, they have your money. They pay lip service to fixing defects and then either do a botched job or just don’t do it at all.
“It is like Persimmon with their fat cat directors and £950m profits are too big to care.”
Persimmon has submitted an application to build a further 830 homes on land east of Maghull, along with another developer, Countryside Properties.
The Sefton Central MP has written to Sefton Council to express alarm at the possibility that more than 1,000 homes may be built with similar issues, asking for assurances that planners take steps to ensure quality build and workmanship.
The Secretary of State for Housing, James Brokenshire, was also said to be concerned about Persimmon. A source was recently quoted as saying: “Leasehold, build quality, their leadership seemingly not getting they’re accountable to their customers, are all points that have been raised by (the minister) privately.”
Mr Esterson is pressing Persimmon to address the issues on Poppy Fields without delay.
He wrote to the chief executive Dave Jenkinson: “Persimmon is currently building homes on Poppy Fields off School Lane in Maghull. Persimmon is also in the process of applying to Sefton Council for permission to build 830 homes on land East of Maghull (planning application DC/2017/01532).
“The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, was recently said to have concerns about the poor-quality workmanship, leasehold charges and a lack of accountability relating to Persimmon.
“My constituent Barry Newcombe bought a house on Heron Way on Poppy Fields one year ago. Mr Newcombe says that after moving into his dream £275,000 home he was shocked at the standard of workmanship, so much so that he commissioned a full building survey to be carried out at the property.
The report stated:
“Overall, the property externally was in very poor condition, the brickwork is not flush or plumb and has poor mortar joints, several roof fixings are missing and the mastic finish is substandard. The condition of the property internally was similarly inferior to what we typically find. The overall workmanship was substandard with reference to the levels, plumbing, paint and plasterwork and general finish.”
“A total of 339 snags were identified, including unsafe structural building regulation violations, large gaps in the roof at both gable ends, appalling non-straight brickwork that doesn’t meet tolerance requirements, numerous leaks, toilet propped up on cardboard, holes in walls left unrepaired, sharp screws sticking out of every window frame, gaping openings over garage doors allowing dangerous silica site dust to enter the property. Air bricks missing.
My constituent says that Persimmon pay lip service to fixing defects and then either do a botched job or just don’t do it at all.”
The MP added: “Persimmon cannot be allowed to carry on building homes of substandard quality cross Maghull.”
Persimmon made profits of £966m last year.
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