Topic ID 1183
I see that new 'luxury waterside apartments' by Higgins developments opposite HE station and Hartham common launched this Saturday. Its 240k for a 2 bedroom flat with balcony, not sure how big and 1 allocated underground parking place. The river view ones look nice in the drawing...quite dear though
Reply ID 13621
They advertised in the Mercury.......... http://www.higginshomes.co.uk/current_dev/riviere/riviere.cfm
Reply ID 13625
£240K... How many people can afford that as a two bedroom property? That kind of money can buy a house in Hertford.
Reply ID 13627
Half will be bought and rented out.
Reply ID 13628
'There is one allocated space per apartment located in the underground car park.', if only half own two cars where will they park? or will there be sufficent spare places?
Reply ID 13632
quote:They're selling 78 of the 112 they're building, which leaves 34 units allocated as "affordable housing for key workers". The planning officer's recommendations talks of "the provision through a registered social landlord of 34 affordable housing units for key workers". It is unclear if this means rented or leased.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Half will be bought and rented out.
Reply ID 13633
quote:There are 112 parking spaces (for 112 flats). There will be a no parking order on both sides of Mill Road.
Originally posted by wingnut
'There is one allocated space per apartment located in the underground car park.', if only half own two cars where will they park? or will there be sufficent spare places?
Reply ID 13634
I cannot understand the allocation of 1 parking space per flat. Why not 1 per bedroom? It is madness. Where will the rest park?
Reply ID 13635
quote:Some of the neighbouring properties aren't that much cheaper. The service charges are quite high as well.
Originally posted by Frenchie
Its 240k for a 2 bedroom flat with balcony
Reply ID 13636
quote:My guess is that this is a combination of compromise and assumption. Assumption that some of the public sector workers won't be able to afford cars and that some of the prospective residents will be commuters without cars (given the 60 second walk to Hertford East!) Some of the surrounding streets have less parking spaces that properties.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I cannot understand the allocation of 1 parking space per flat. Why not 1 per bedroom? It is madness. Where will the rest park?
Reply ID 13637
The public sector workers need cars as much as anybody. Perhaps they will not be as up to date as the other residents though. And how do those in the surrounding streets manage? And as for the service charges...........£950 was quoted for Maple Lodge when it was built. Absolutely insane.
Reply ID 13641
quote:Noticed recently a lot of the 2 the bed flats at the old Addis factory development are on the mkt at around 220k - Always loads up for rent. Saturation point ?...
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Half will be bought and rented out.
Reply ID 13642
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the reason why there is only one parking space per flat is because Mr Prescott's department has stated that this should be the case with new developments. The arguement being that the fewer parking spaces, the few cars will be bought. I'll leave you all to consider the logic behind THAT thinking! Have you all also considered the "social" side to planning applications for such developments? When a large developer makes an application to build homes, local planning committee are allowed to demand that they contribute to the local infrastructure. This includes money to go towards roads, bus stops etc. It is estimated that developers contribute about £6,000 per bedroom to such infrastructure projects and these costs are passed straight onto the home buyer. Now THAT is one of the most significant stealth taxes of recent years!
Reply ID 13651
These flats aren't cheap are they? £245K will buy you a garden flat in a decent area of South London (even though Hertfrd is way nicer than South London) but they do look quite nice. The bedrooms are on the small side though.
Reply ID 13655
£245k will buy you a 2 bed house with garden and garage on the Millmead Way estate 5 mins walk from a decent train station and 10 mins from the town. + you will have change to put a deposit down on a Porsche!! Cant see the logic in their pricing.
Reply ID 13656
you do get a 10-year guarantee too I suppose. These prices are for buying off-plan too, so they will be quite a bit more once they're completed
Reply ID 13661
quote:So Mr "2 Jags" Prescott Says that people are only allowed 1 car Or is he picking on East Herts again because they voted Tory
Originally posted by MDT
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the reason why there is only one parking space per flat is because Mr Prescott's department has stated that this should be the case with new developments. The arguement being that the fewer parking spaces, the few cars will be bought.
Reply ID 13721
Council Tax! Why state the local tax when it does not reach anywhere near the price of the properties? Shall check mine! Why does every new build in the town look like a prison cell? Any mooring rights does anyone know. Do the Narrow Boats really fit in or is it clever photography? I don't live far away and have a river view - I wouldn't pay that for it though..... Anyone mug enough to pay me that, fine [:D]
Reply ID 14163
Affordable "key worker" housing! Don't get me started on bloody affordable "key worker" housing. I wish I could afford affordable housing.
Reply ID 15367
quote:Because people will pay it! To most people trying to escape from smoke, they will seem cheap; especially with a Railway station of your doorstep. (The fact that the service to London is diabolical is something they won't bothe rto find out until they've moved in!) Has anyone seen the plot recently?
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
£245k will buy you a 2 bed house with garden and garage on the Millmead Way estate 5 mins walk from a decent train station and 10 mins from the town. + you will have change to put a deposit down on a Porsche!! Cant see the logic in their pricing.
Reply ID 15440
Would not like to be living in the flat`s that will be overlooking Mead Lane, lovely view of the lorry`s and skips. Also has any thought went into the volume of traffic that use this road, ok a lot of them will travel by train but once they find out how bad the service is, well, jams galore it is bad enough now in rush hour.Any body with info on a new road etc.?
Reply ID 32172
Now that the scaffolding is down, any thoughts on how these look? Personally I think it looks like some sort of secure establishment - the grey security doors, the bars, the "industrial" roofing. Not nice.
Reply ID 32177
quote:Saw it yesterday and agree totally.
Originally posted by Steve
Now that the scaffolding is down, any thoughts on how these look? Personally I think it looks like some sort of secure establishment - the grey security doors, the bars, the "industrial" roofing. Not nice.
Reply ID 32305
the nice thing about the one-parkingspace-per-unit is that the people who don't need it will get to rent their parking spot off to the highest bidder, offsetting some of what will be their exorbitant mortgage / rent!
Reply ID 32381
quote:I actually like the design, but like with Newland, I think the height is totally out of place with the town. I'm amazed they are getting planning permission when the height of a building; against it neighbours, is supposed to be a major consideration.
Originally posted by Steve
Now that the scaffolding is down, any thoughts on how these look? Personally I think it looks like some sort of secure establishment - the grey security doors, the bars, the "industrial" roofing. Not nice.
Reply ID 32517
quote:I drove past there this morning and have to agree. Dreadful!
Originally posted by Steve
Now that the scaffolding is down, any thoughts on how these look? Personally I think it looks like some sort of secure establishment - the grey security doors, the bars, the "industrial" roofing. Not nice.
Reply ID 32521
quote:Hideous and out of place.
Originally posted by Steve
Now that the scaffolding is down, any thoughts on how these look? Personally I think it looks like some sort of secure establishment - the grey security doors, the bars, the "industrial" roofing. Not nice.
Reply ID 32522
I would imagine that the rest of the area will go that way, eventually.
Reply ID 32527
I actually think its very nice. Im not a fan of the mass of miles of the same brickwork (Newland Gdns) myself. I like the diff textures and curves.
Reply ID 37527
Does anyone know the cause of the awful white marks all over the brickwork? I'm told it's due to oxidisation and the result of poor workmanship.
Reply ID 37532
It looks like weather sealant that should come off in time. I had the same problem in a flat a few years ago. It took snow, then rain, then sun to get rid of it. If you live there, get your all-weather dancing shoes on Steve.
Reply ID 37568
Looks to me like it's leaching out of the brickwork and mortar [img]../images/forum/riviere_marks1.jpg[/img] [img]../images/forum/riviere_marks2.jpg[/img] [img]../images/forum/riviere_marks3.jpg[/img]
Reply ID 37587
have seen it and it looks awful...I wonder if the people who have moved in can sue?
Reply ID 37593
It appears that the gutters aren't capable of dealing with heavy rain. Parts of the building have very steep sloping roofs leading to very small gutters. Result; water spills over and runs down the brickwork. Some of the wooden cladding has already rotted before people moved in!!
Reply ID 37594
And how much are these things going for.....?
Reply ID 37595
Well, we went to have a nose a couple of weeks ago, they're opposit where we live and I was curious to see them. I said our budget was £220k and was expecting to be shown a 2 bed, but we were told that the ones remaining are on for £240k [B)] The first bedroom was a decent size, with built in wardrobes, but the second looked small, and they also hadn't put any wardrobes into it as it would have looked too poky. The hallway was nice and spacious, and the bathroom looked OK too. I commented on the nice hardwood floor in the living room/kitchen (they are the same room), and was told that wasn't included in the price. So you pay almost a quarter of a million pound for a new build and you have to pay to put your own flooring in, shocking. Plus, the other thing is that road most of them face onto is a) incredibly busy and b) has a lovely view of...the industrial estate, fantastic. I'm soooo glad that we can't afford anything like this, I'm so much happier in my 100 year old flat with thick walls and construction so that we can't hear our neighbours. Also, does anyone know when they're due to finish? I'm so sick of being woken up by the freakin' builders.
Reply ID 37604
You wanna try living in Pimlico Court near Elbert Wurlings built by Beverley Housing. The Keyworker apartments were banned from parking in the underground carpark and given 6 spaces between 8 flats. They built a block of offices next door which have a 24 hour operation so you can get woken up at 2am by them running up and down their stairs, by the Ford garage alarms going off or drunks coming out of Elbert Wurlings!!! Mill Lane sounds like paradise!!
Reply ID 37608
why banned from the underground parking at pimlico court when there are sufficient spaces in the underground for all appartments? in order to stay on topic pimlico court also suffering from the same problem on the brick work
Reply ID 37612
We don't know why we were banned from the underground car park, Beverley homes would never tell us. Pimlico Court has problems on the brick work and also lots of other problems, they just don't build them like they used to!!
Reply ID 37613
quote:Friends of mine looked around the showhome at Mill Mead Way some years ago and swore that the vendors had put in 3/4 size furniture to make the rooms look bigger - e.g chest of drawers and sideboards were of very shallow depth compared to normal! Is this a regular sales trick for new builds I wonder?
Originally posted by Jo S they also hadn't put any wardrobes into it as it would have looked too poky.
Reply ID 37614
quote:Yes this happens a lot - we looked round many show homes at Fairfield Park last year/year before & found this to be the case.
Originally posted by nora battyquote:Friends of mine looked around the showhome at Mill Mead Way some years ago and swore that the vendors had put in 3/4 size furniture to make the rooms look bigger - e.g chest of drawers and sideboards were of very shallow depth compared to normal! Is this a regular sales trick for new builds I wonder?
Originally posted by Jo S they also hadn't put any wardrobes into it as it would have looked too poky.
Reply ID 37618
quote:We looked at 3 bedroom houses on the Foxholes about 13 years ago before moving to Hertford and found that many were smaller than the Victorian 2 up 2 down that we already lived in. The whole layout, decor and furnishing of the showhome is designed to make the most of the space and make the property look spacious. It is the same with the gardens.
Originally posted by Willowquote:Yes this happens a lot - we looked round many show homes at Fairfield Park last year/year before & found this to be the case.
Originally posted by nora battyquote:Friends of mine looked around the showhome at Mill Mead Way some years ago and swore that the vendors had put in 3/4 size furniture to make the rooms look bigger - e.g chest of drawers and sideboards were of very shallow depth compared to normal! Is this a regular sales trick for new builds I wonder?
Originally posted by Jo S they also hadn't put any wardrobes into it as it would have looked too poky.
Reply ID 37625
quote:I believe this is called efflorescence see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efflorescence Now that the hoardings are down this development is not what I would consider an ornament to the district
Originally posted by buzz
It appears that the gutters aren't capable of dealing with heavy rain. Parts of the building have very steep sloping roofs leading to very small gutters. Result; water spills over and runs down the brickwork. Some of the wooden cladding has already rotted before people moved in!!
Reply ID 37633
Is there an industry/professional organisation for planning departments that has a forum which allows members to share experiences of developers. This would allow planners to consider the track history of the developers in their approval process. Planners and councilors should contact their peers in other councils where a developer has worked to assess factors such as; 1) How far the developer strayed from the original plan. 2) Quality of the build. 3) Behaviour of the developers (both the on-site teams and the management) 4) Experiences on any underhand practices employed by the developer.
Reply ID 37635
quote:Hurrah! An answer! You are a gentleman, sir.
Originally posted by Andrew
I believe this is called efflorescence see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efflorescence Now that the hoardings are down this development is not what I would consider an ornament to the district
Reply ID 37855
With regard to Pimlico Court (Where do they get these naff names from?) built by Beverley Homes, I saw the chap that runs the company (not sure of his name) rather loudly and self conciously blasting round Hertford in a brand new bright red convertible Ferrari last Summer. I think that tells you all you need to know about A) the profit levels on these tinpot little developments B) The ridiculous levels of house prices generally at the moment.
Reply ID 37871
I'd also like the heads on sticks of the people at the council who approved the plans for Pimlico Court, who ever heard of sticking offices on the side of a residential build and not allowing one section of the residents access to the underground car parking facilities. The head of Beverley Homes is just as unhelpful and made no attempt to iron out any of the problems which were raised to him within 24 months of the first residents moving in. I hope someone prangs his sports car!!!!
Reply ID 37879
quote:Why would you choose to live in a town centre location if you don't like noise. Surely you have to expect it to be noisy if you live next a pub and the dual carriage way? If you like peace and quiet live in the sticks!
Originally posted by Earthmother
You wanna try living in Pimlico Court near Elbert Wurlings built by Beverley Housing. The Keyworker apartments were banned from parking in the underground carpark and given 6 spaces between 8 flats. They built a block of offices next door which have a 24 hour operation so you can get woken up at 2am by them running up and down their stairs, by the Ford garage alarms going off or drunks coming out of Elbert Wurlings!!! Mill Lane sounds like paradise!!
Reply ID 37880
quote:Naff development names are inflicted on developers by the Planning office - you try getting anything half decent through planning! And I am pretty sure that if you ran a multi-million pound company you wouldn't be taking the bus to work, but would probably s**** around town in a shiny sports car like Mr Barham!
Originally posted by maggie
With regard to Pimlico Court (Where do they get these naff names from?) built by Beverley Homes, I saw the chap that runs the company (not sure of his name) rather loudly and self conciously blasting round Hertford in a brand new bright red convertible Ferrari last Summer. I think that tells you all you need to know about A) the profit levels on these tinpot little developments B) The ridiculous levels of house prices generally at the moment.
Reply ID 37881
Because Kitty Kat its called being a keyworker on low wages and being offered a home which you can't chance turn down as the property ladder is light years away. We have to put up with the pollution from the A414 and the noisy drunks at 2am on a Friday and Saturday morning. Unfortuntley Beverley homes thinks like you and thinks that we just have to put up with what we are given because they have us over a barrel!!
Reply ID 37883
Basically what I am saying is that it seems to be all about maximising profit at the expense of providing for residents' needs and rights (ref. lack of keyworker parking and 24 hour offices next door). Of course all businesses need to make a profit, but it just seems that most building developers come across as being mean. I hope he enjoys his Ferrari - and that he has somewhere to park it!
Reply ID 37889
quote:It shouldn't be private developers responsibility to provide social housing - that should be down to the council. Do Tesco get asked to provide cheaper food for those on low incomes? Do Next or Marks and Spencer get asked to donate their profits to low income families? No they don't. Developers are put over a barrel by councils and are told that permission will not be granted for their developments without giving over a certain percentage of that development to social housing etc. They are also made to provide funds for lighting schemes, under passes and road schemes - surely that should all be paid for out of our taxes and council tax. Whatever happened to all the cash from the massive sell off of council homes in the 1980s?
Originally posted by maggie
Basically what I am saying is that it seems to be all about maximising profit at the expense of providing for residents' needs and rights (ref. lack of keyworker parking and 24 hour offices next door). Of course all businesses need to make a profit, but it just seems that most building developers come across as being mean. I hope he enjoys his Ferrari - and that he has somewhere to park it!
Reply ID 37890
It seems you have taken this rather personally Kitty Kat and I am sorry for that. If housing developers are so hard done by, how come they can afford to flounce around in cars more associated with international footballers and tanned film stars, not middle aged balding builders!
Reply ID 37892
quote:Yes, I have - business is tough and not for the faint hearted. We all get what we deserve in this life, we choose our own path. Builders can afford expensive toys because they work smart and not hard!
Originally posted by maggie
It seems you have taken this rather personally Kitty Kat and I am sorry for that. If housing developers are so hard done by, how come they can afford to flounce around in cars more associated with international footballers and tanned film stars, not middle aged balding builders!
Reply ID 37893
'We all get what we deserve in this life'. I'm not sure that is entirely true. Certainly a murder victim might disagree with that point of view. I assume you must be talking about material objects. I suppose in this society where greed and selfishness are rewarded above those that care and want to help others (the very Key Workers like Earthmother) you are right. You could say builders work smarter not harder. You could also say that it's easy to make hay while the sun shines.
Reply ID 37895
quote:You could also say money breeds money
Originally posted by maggie
'We all get what we deserve in this life'. I'm not sure that is entirely true. Certainly a murder victim might disagree with that point of view. I assume you must be talking about material objects. I suppose in this society where greed and selfishness are rewarded above those that care and want to help others (the very Key Workers like Earthmother) you are right. You could say builders work smarter not harder. You could also say that it's easy to make hay while the sun shines.
Reply ID 37896
Maggie I'm so behind you, because if there weren't the keyworkers such as social workers, paramedics, fire fighters, teachers, nurses and doctors then I'm sure Kitty Kat would have something to moan about. Kitty Kat, All that keyworkers want is to be considered as the other residents in the block. Because you are ordered by law to provide a certain percentage to social housing does that give the companies the right to provide them with 24 hour noise due to a block of noisy offices next door or stop them from using the provided secure parking even though there are enough spaces for one per flat and provide the eight flats with six spaces which the offices sometimes decide to take or block, we are not asking for much just not to be treated like 2nd class citizens.
Reply ID 37897
Kitty Kat - you sound like you have experienced planners/council's negotiations first hand. Are you a developer/builder?
Reply ID 37898
Please return to topic
Reply ID 37901
quote:Isn't everyone a 'developer' these days! Yes I have first hand experience as I used to work for Beverley Homes - and you view the planning process differently when you are on the builder's side of the fence. I understand Earthmothers views and agree with Maggie that people shouldn't be penalised for carrying out jobs that not everyone can do - nurses, doctors etc are valuable and should be treated as such - particularly by the Government. I was trying to make the point that private companies should not be held responsible for providing a public service at private cost.
Originally posted by Mr P
Kitty Kat - you sound like you have experienced planners/council's negotiations first hand. Are you a developer/builder?
Reply ID 48550
Despite having been completed only last year, poor old Riviere is starting to show signs of premature ageing. As mentioned elsewhere, some of the weatherboarding is starting to look stained and faded.
Reply ID 48554
quote:That will be the salty air coming from the harbour that has done that.
Originally posted by Steve
Despite having been completed only last year, poor old Riviere is starting to show signs of premature ageing. As mentioned elsewhere, some of the weatherboarding is starting to look stained and faded.
Reply ID 48557
quote:Unfortunately we seem to have returned to a style of achitecture which looks "designer" and "innovative" when new, but an unsightly slum when less than immaculate. It seems no lessons have been learned from the '60s, when the last rash of such properties went up to great acclaim, only do be demolished within a very few years, as they deteriated into eyesores.
Originally posted by Steve
Despite having been completed only last year, poor old Riviere is starting to show signs of premature ageing. As mentioned elsewhere, some of the weatherboarding is starting to look stained and faded.
Reply ID 48561
quote:How long will it be before the 'white Shed' opposite the Police Station goes the same way ....
Originally posted by shuntquote:Unfortunately we seem to have returned to a style of achitecture which looks "designer" and "innovative" when new, but an unsightly slum when less than immaculate. It seems no lessons have been learned from the '60s, when the last rash of such properties went up to great acclaim, only do be demolished within a very few years, as they deteriated into eyesores.
Originally posted by Steve
Despite having been completed only last year, poor old Riviere is starting to show signs of premature ageing. As mentioned elsewhere, some of the weatherboarding is starting to look stained and faded.
Reply ID 48602
quote:Thing is though, the only thing making it look slummy is the poor weatherboarding, and that can easily be plastered over.
Originally posted by azzzaquote:How long will it be before the 'white Shed' opposite the Police Station goes the same way ....
Originally posted by shuntquote:Unfortunately we seem to have returned to a style of achitecture which looks "designer" and "innovative" when new, but an unsightly slum when less than immaculate. It seems no lessons have been learned from the '60s, when the last rash of such properties went up to great acclaim, only do be demolished within a very few years, as they deteriated into eyesores.
Originally posted by Steve
Despite having been completed only last year, poor old Riviere is starting to show signs of premature ageing. As mentioned elsewhere, some of the weatherboarding is starting to look stained and faded.
Reply ID 48605
quote:Bit of stone cladding would give it a bit of class [:)]
Originally posted by Brockman Thing is though, the only thing making it look slummy is the poor weatherboarding, and that can easily be plastered over.
Reply ID 48608
quote:True, exactly. The point is, unlike the monstrosities of the 60's, modern architecture is much nicer and I'd bet a lot that it will continue too. It might need touching up, but aside from the wood, I can't see very much going bad.
Originally posted by Leo Densianquote:Bit of stone cladding would give it a bit of class [:)]
Originally posted by Brockman Thing is though, the only thing making it look slummy is the poor weatherboarding, and that can easily be plastered over.
Reply ID 48617
that is the whole point. the boarding is being weathered its not supposed to stay the same
Reply ID 48619
quote:It's reasonable to assume that the developers assume that! Parking is terrible round there. I do a part-time evening delivery job and I can't drop off a delivery in that area en route to anywhere else because I can't park close enough to make it worthwhile. So I make them single deliveries and walk there from base in the town centre, then walk back to base to drive to a different delivery address. Some would park illegally using the excuse that they'll only be there for a minute, but I refuse to do that cos I'm a real jobsworth and law-abiding citizen! [:)]
Originally posted by Steve
My guess is that this is a combination of compromise and assumption. Assumption that some of the public sector workers won't be able to afford cars and that some of the prospective residents will be commuters without cars (given the 60 second walk to Hertford East!) Some of the surrounding streets have less parking spaces that properties.