About St Modwen Homes

The design of the properties here at Locking Parklands is excellent with the principal of ‘life-time living’. Many are of an individual style – even a terrace of houses do not contain every property alike. Use of brick, stone, different woods, grey roof tiles, double-glazing – grey not boring white give the properties a very contemporary edge. St Modwen Homes have thought ahead for you – level entrances, wide doorways, secure by design locking systems, lights at front & rear of property. Bautifully fitted kitchens, available parking for all properties. Eco friendly with excellent insulation and solar panels. Light streams in from the different aspects of the property, so sometimes on a bright winter’s day – you would be forgiven for thinking it is a sunny summer’s day! A residential property management company acts for the Locking Parklands Community Interest Company and does its best to manage resources and give value for money but really could do with at least two Property Managers as this is a fast growing development and will need more as it reaches its target quota of new properties. As more properties are expected it would be good to see apartment blocks no more than 3 storeys high and the inclusion of lifts; as well as serious efforts to keep as much green open space as possible together with the completion of the Cycleway around the complex. It would also be beneficial for there to be continued consultation with residents regarding how the development of property design and facilties are provided as each new phase comes along.

Design of Egstow Park is nice – the houses look impressive from the outside. What lets it down significantly is the constant building work, construction traffic and therefore mess which is still happening in areas which are finished. The roads looks unfinished and there are always signs or fencing up where bits of the road is being dug up. It’s horrifically messy when it’s been raining as the diggers drive to and from building sites through the main estate – there isn’t much point in having your car or windows cleaned. Property management to my home has always been OK but the garden was terrible. The landscaping has been done in a quick and cheap manner without the recommended depth of top soil. It took nearly a year to resolve this issue. The site needs to be managed in a better way. It’s chaos on a daily basis

The estate itself is reasonably well laid out and has a great sense of community. The location, right on the edge of the city but immediately next to open countryside is great and the properties provide good value for money overall. Main roads are also in close proximity, as are major shopping facilities (supermarkets etc). Issues wise, it is taking the developer WAY too long to complete the basic infrastructure and get it adopted by the council (roads and pavements still unfinished after some residents have been here for 2 years plus). The managing agent also appears to be completely invisible. The builders have been very slow at dealing with residual issues.

The external design of the development appears to be great, very modern looking and great curb appeal. However that is where my positive feedback ends.
Building and property management has been diabolical, we have been left with damp walls, damp ceilings, water leakage through the ceilings and window seals. This was first reported when we first moved in almost a year ago and has still not been rectified by St Modwen. My messages are ignored every week, I have taken days off work for these to be repaired and nobody turns up to fix these issues. The design of the balcony drainage is awful, this is causing the leaking water in our apartment, we were told this would be investigated 2 months ago and still nothing has been done.