About Story Homes

However it lacks any facilities, the small park that has been built is very close to a single carriage bypass and has no baby friendly park equipment. An after thought at best.

It has good access to the fields for dog walking but no bins around the estate for dog waste and litter which is starting to impact negatively on the estate.

The estate also lacks any nice planting in features. There are no nice focal points of the estate, ie communal garden areas, larger trees or hedging. The residents have now taken to going out and planting flowers and bulbs themselves.

At present there is no property management as the site is unfinished but hopefully the residents can put across their priorities and the management agent will put these in place.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

There’s good access to local shops but the area lacks restaurants, cafes and bars in walking distance.

The transport links are average to good, once you have left the village and entered blaydon it is easy to get anywhere on the bus or train.

The road is yet to be adopted and can often be full of site workers vans and cars. Once the site is finished this should obviously improve. Bin collection is fine and no traffic noise as we are at the back of the estate furthest from the main roads.

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

Nothing really, just make sure you’ve checked and are happy with the property, all snagging is reported and dealt with.

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

Problems have been dealt with in a timely fashion.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

There is a good range of pubs, restaurants and coffee shops within the town, however, there is a lack of clothes shops

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

We found that the site lay out could have been displayed in a better way, a site model would be a much clearer way to show the location, elevation and orientation of each property.

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

The first two months our minor problems were sorted very quickly without too much hassle, however, dealing with the customer service department was more of a challenge and the personnel kept changing, which also made it more difficult to get things organised and completed.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

Unfortunately the only pub within walking distance is Sherwood pub (quite rough). There are no restaurants apart from a Costa, Subway and Greggs sandwich shop. Local shops are handy but I dont shop in Aldi or B&M. So they aren’t suitable for me. Bin collections are a huge pain as we have to drag our bins to the top of the street and then back again. Always a pain in bad weather.

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

I wish I knew that Id have so many plumbing (5 toilets) and drainage issues with toilets and the main garden being so water logged, and I wish I had known the bins were not collectable from outside the house rather than having to take them right down to the end of the road. I wish I had known other houses were going up along the road when I was informed it would be a tree lined street and no further building!!

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

I have been promised drainage from the outset before completion in my garden. Yet 18 months in this has never been done and is still an issue. Its a real shame as you trust a persons’ word and don’t wish to dishonour by asking for everything in writing. This is a huge lesson learnt. Most of the other issues/ items have been resolved but with real stress and chasing from my end being a arduous task.

Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:

Proximity to the Arnison Centre is a huge positive. The area is quiet and family friendly and has good quality pubs nearby. Road links to Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland are easily accessible too.

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

Private drives have their own bin collection point at the end of the street as bin lorries are not allowed down the street itself.

What is the best feature of your home:

The high quality internal finishes in the kitchen.