Who is Responsible for Maintenance Pre-Handover?

By Nige on May 23, 2023 at 8:04 am
Type: Post Category: Maintenance
Tags: Bloor Homes | Management Company | Management Plan

It’s been over two years since Bloor Homes sold the final property on The Dovecote. Handover is no closer than when we first started on this journey, so understandably, residents are asking about who’s responsible for maintaining the Public Open Space (POS) at The Dovecote.

We have summarised the Key Points for those who just want the headlines and for those that would like to read a little more, head to our In-Depth Analysis.

Key Points

• Bloor Homes (as the Developer) is responsible for the POS until such time as Vale White Horse District Council (VWHDC) has issued them with a Certificate of Final Completion.
• The Developer is currently doing the bare minimum in terms of maintenance. In their eyes that means cutting the grass!
• Contractually, Bloor agreed with VWHDC to maintain the POS in line with a Management Plan that was also agreed at the time of the planning application being approved back in 2016. They are clearly not doing that.
• Bloor Homes is trying to minimize the expenses it continues to incur on The Dovecote, whilst spiritually (at least) it has already moved on.
• The TDRA will continue to remind Bloor Homes about its responsibilities and submit maintenance requests as and when required.

In-Depth Analysis

Background

When Bloor Homes secured approval to its planning application to build 140+ homes on The Dovecote in Drayton, Bloor agreed to a number of commitments:

1. Construct the properties, roads and other infrastructure in line with the planning application. That bit is the obvious one!
2. Establish a Public Open Space (POS) which would provide a shared green space for the residents of The Dovecote and the local community.
3. Whilst all of the construction work was going on, deliver/open elements of the POS in line with proportions of the properties having been sold. E.g. Open the play area before 70% of the properties were occupied.
4. Maintain the POS in line with the Management Plan until such time as the development was fully handed over to the Management Company (MC).
5. Manage the play area and undertake weekly inspections of all play equipment.

Performance

Bloor has failed to deliver on all of those commitments. For example, the play area was opened months after it was supposed to be opened and the POS hasn’t been maintained in line with the agreed Management Plan.

Bloor contractually agreed to the following:

• Grass cutting.
• Pruning of trees, shrubs and hedges.
• Removal of weeds and dead plant material.
• Removal of rubbish, debris and litter.
• Maintenance of any walls, fences and footpaths within or along any boundaries in good condition.
• Replanting of plants which may have died or are otherwise removed.

Very little of the above is actually being undertaken by Bloor. Grass cutting is the one thing they are doing, together with emptying the bins.

Summary

Bloor is currently doing the bare minimum in terms of maintenance. In their eyes that means cutting the grass on a regular basis. No weeding is being undertaken and the plants/trees are not being proactively maintained.

What Can We Do?

Until the residents take control of the Management Company, residents have very little influence over maintenance.

The TDRA will continue to remind Bloor Homes about its responsibilities and submit maintenance requests as and when required.