A guide to living in East Midlands

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Parking for residents is limited and poorly designed. What developer builds a 4-bed house with one parking space on a driveway? Parking space for visitors is non-existent so expect clogged up roads throughout the development Bin collections are good and generally reliable - they take more recycling here and general rubbish than other areas we've lived Public transport is limited and only from the centre of Bolsover- a 15 minute walk away from this development. You need a car or be prepared to get taxis if public transport isn't for you Doctors are pretty good. There is no NHS dentist in Bolsover so expect to travel of any are taking patients on We've been here 3 years and were expecting more upgrades/enhancements to the centre of Bolsover by now with all the new estates/homeowners buying but apart from a few nice coffee shops, the centre is full of takeaways or tlbarbers/hairdressers so little on offer to spend money here rather than Chesterfield, Sheffield etc. Makes you wonder what Bolsover District Council are spending their money on?

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The lack of car parking for residents and visitors is so poor its laughable. If we'd have spent time looking at this more thoroughly we'd probably not have bought the house We'd also wished we'd have spoken to residents before buying as if an honest opinion was given by most from Sutherland Farm View, Boleappleton and Nether View, again we probably wouldn't have purchased on this development

What is the best feature of your home:

The design of the house is excellent giving spacious living areas we thought we'd relish

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living on the canal side of The Arches is incredibly convenient. From the side entrance, there is a Londis less than two minutes away, and the new Sainsbury’s on Highcross Street is right by the main entrance for larger shops. Being so close to a Big Tesco on Narborough Road, Aldi on Woodgate, Highcross, and Jubilee Square means everything you need is within walking distance, including great spots like Wygston’s House. The building is well-set up with two large communal bin areas and two very secure bike storage zones, which is a huge plus. While street parking is permit-only and can get busy, the permit zone is quite wide, so I’ve always been able to find a space nearby. It’s a fantastic location that balances city-centre access with the slightly quieter feel of the canal bend.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

We’ve had a few issues, but the management team has generally handled them with a lot of care. For instance, our cooker hob shattered on Christmas Eve, which was a nightmare timing-wise. While it took a few weeks to get a permanent replacement, Mia and Abbie were very supportive and even let us use a vacant flat to cook in so we could still cook during the weeks waiting. My only real gripe was with the third-party contractors they hired; they cut the power to my flat without warning while I was working from home, which caused me to lose work on my computer. A simple heads-up would have gone a long way! We’ve also had a bit of a miss with the window cleaners lately—our side of the building (the canal side) seems to have been skipped, so the windows are still quite dirty. Hopefully, the team can get them back out soon! On the security side, there is occasionally some noise or trouble from the nearby student accommodation. Still, it’s reassuring that we have on-site security and good connections with the local police. Despite the odd city-centre incident you might see in the news, I’ve generally felt that the building is a safe and well-managed bubble.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known just how much there is to take advantage of here! First, don’t ignore the building app or the event posters; Mia and Abbie put so much effort into the social nights, and they are honestly the best way to meet your neighbours. If you work or study from home, keep in mind that the private study rooms are popular and can get snatched up quickly, so it’s worth heading down early or exploring the various 'hidden' cubbies and desks in the communal areas

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Area is nice. Housing company is horrendous. Shops, barbers, takeaways near by. Bus route to Peterborough

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

How bad the so called aftercare would be and how many issues would be in the house for almost a year

What is the best feature of your home:

The view. The build quality is terrible as is the customer service.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The arches is in the center of Leicester and make transportation very accessible.Its location makes it very easy to access lots of restaurants ,shops and the high cross mall.The car park is very large .The street is calm and safe.This is definitely a very residential area with accessibility to urgent needs!

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

It is very very prompt and they ensure tenant satisfaction before the case is closed.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Well they let you know everything before you move in!And if there are any questions it’s answered promptly!

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Plenty of outdoor spaces and nice to walk around the development. No traffic noise, parking is great for us, we know there is a bus route near us. Walking distance to shell, short drive to main shops. Enjoy the greenery in the area a lot

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

I sent an email a few days ago asking about the grass and another query but have not heard back. We had an issue with the WiFi which we were assisted on though it awkwardly happened over the Easter holiday and had to wait a while for assistance

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

That we needed our passports before check in, that we can’t personalise the broadband, otherwise that’s it!