South East England is the third-largest of the official regions of England by area, and has the highest population of all the regions. Stretching to the west as far as the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, right across to the tip of Kent and curling around London up to Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, the South East benefits from its close connection with the capital and the national transport network. It also offers residents close proximity to the continent and swift international connections via the Channel Tunnel, Gatwick and Heathrow on its border with Greater London.
Crest Nicholson – never again. Avoid!
No facilities built yet; awaiting parks, shops, bins, some visitor parking spaces incomplete/missed/fenced off. After 6months have just got a road sign. Took many weeks before had door number. Made deliveries very hard to organise/recieve. Still awaiting street lights, temporary solar ones were put in place after a month or so. New plot plan not given to council or utilities, so they did not have our door number registered. Has been long winded manual process to register for garden bin, council tax, and other utilities. After 6months still don’t have gas/electric bill, because incorrect meter no. and door no. registered by Crest. Energy Ombudsman says not handling error, point of reg issue. So no compensation. So we suffer, for their mistake. Will get 6+ month bill in one go at some point, in current cost of living, very hard to allow for that.
Please review your development:
Some houses built in incorrect orientation. Roadworks/pavement signs don’t make sense i.e. 2 arrows pointing to different sides, construction lorries delivering into driving lane, blocking while main road. Often construction done blocking street/drive with no notice, no signs. Only find out when arrive in dead end in car/go to leave in car and can’t. H&S fencing often not out back around building sites in evening. Houses or rubbish areas, left open to access, hazard to children/teenagers. Lampost was put directly Infront, within touching distance of neighbours main bay window. We pointed out incorrect location to plan which showed it on corner, that every other one in corner of plots, that it was clearly in way, non-sensical, and directly opposite our window too. Was finally relocated, but only after owner then pushed for it to move too.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
Check house a week before move in. All should be finished and checked. Ask to see check / sign off list from site manager. Check they done their own any check. Check floor stuck down, left 24hrs to dry, then selaant added. Check paint, and sealant dry 24hra before you move in. Check Driveway etc built with drainage in design. Check plot number & design correct on plan in legal paperwork. If it’s changed, then ensure developer then re-notifies all those authorities it sent original plan/plot numbers to. Ensure developer registers you’re correct elec/gas/solar meter numbers to your address.
What is the best feature of your home:
I really don’t know. The experience with Crest has left me sour/numb about whole thing, so I have no positive feelings about house yet still. It’s still un-finished, 6months later. The point of buying new build was to avoid disruption of fixing/building works in an existing house, to avoid disruption and upset to our children who have additional needs. And we have had 6months of on and off trades in and out. Caused a lot of unrest in first few months when moved in, we wanted to avoid, and moving house was change enough for kids.

