Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough, has joined with over 30 other Members of Parliament in issuing a strong letter to major housing developers, demanding urgent action to tackle the growing issue of unadopted housing estates.
In Peterborough, several new estates remain ‘Unadopted’ meaning developers have not handed them over to the council. Roads such as those around Manor Drive and Aldermans Drive-remain unadopted and, as a result, responsibility for roads, drains, and lighting stays with the developer or a private management company instead of the local authority.
Yaxley, Peterborough
Sunday 19 May 2024.
Picture by Terry Harris.
This leaves homeowners reliant on unregulated companies for estate maintenance and roads, often facing high and unpredictable charges because the council does not oversee these services.
Andrew has already been helping residents challenge unfair charges and poor service on estates run by FirstPort management company on behalf of the developer.
The group of MPs have highlighted that 80% of new housing estates in the UK remain unadopted, exposing residents to escalating estate management fees and unplanned repair costs. In 2022 alone, households across the country paid an estimated £260 million in such charges. Leaseholders faced average annual costs of £350, with many forced to pay significantly more for repairs that should be covered by local authorities.
Yaxley, Peterborough
Sunday 19 May 2024.
Picture by Terry Harris.
The letter celebrates the Government’s commitment to building 1.5 million new homes but stresses that this ambition must not come at the expense of fairness for new homeowners. It calls on developers to work with councils to ensure that new estates are built to adoptable standards and transferred to local authorities promptly. This would protect homeowners from unreasonable charges and ensure access to properly maintained communal spaces and infrastructure.
Andrew has also asked Peterborough City Council how often it reviews unadopted roads and urged a local group to come together to get these developments updated and adopted by the council.
Hampton Gardens, Peterborough
Thursday 14 October 2021.
Picture by Terry Harris.
Andrew Pakes MP for Peterborough said:
“This is a pressing issue for communities like ours in Peterborough. Families moving into new homes deserve assurances that their estates will be properly maintained without facing hidden fees or unfair charges.
Developers must work transparently with councils to resolve this growing problem and ensure fairness for homeowners.”
See attached list of roads – https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/planning-and-development/highway-control#list-of-streets-0-0
