LOS ANGELES: His face is all over local TV stations, but an eco development by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud has turned into a DIY SOS – after the properties were riddled with building blunders.
The 78 properties quickly sold out as buyers snapped up the state-of-the-art homes, which are ‘super insulated’ and triple glazed to preserve energy.
But residents have reported a string of complaints including damp, draughty windows, uncapped chimneys and plasterboard problems.
And following a gas leak it emerged that many of the central heating systems do not comply with standard regulations.
As a result, some residents have been forced to move out for up to three weeks – with their belongings put in storage – while extensive repairs are carried out.
Clare Honeyfield, 51, who moved into her apartment last August, said she feels let down by the TV architect.
Her company, Made in Stroud, even provided some of the products for the interior of the show home – but she regrets ever buying the property.
She said: “I bought it very much on the Kevin McCloud brand. They were designed by his architect company. I could not feel more let down.
“I don’t see the corporate social responsibility I would expect from Kevin McCloud’s company. I feel like we have been dumped while they move on.
“I absolutely regret buying into the Kevin McCloud brand. I feel very disappointed.
“You could make a whole Grand Designs episode about the issues the neighbours here are going through.”
The estate, called Applewood, is built on the site of the former Cashes Green Hospital in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
It was developed by McCloud’s property company HAB – which stands for Happiness Architecture Beauty – and built by construction firm GreenSpace.
The completed community comprises of 21 four-bedroom houses, 29 three-bedroom houses, 14 two-bedroom houses, eight two-bedroom apartments and six one-bedroom flats.
Applewood has a variety of green spaces including a ‘pocket orchard’ and a natural ‘wildlife corridor’ which runs through the site from north to south.
But buyers such as Clare first noticed problems late last year and have been trying to resolve them ever since.
The problem is so extensive that Stroud MP Neil Carmichael has met with around 20 residents and now intends to write to GreenSquare on their behalf.
HAB has since tried to defer blame for the project onto GreenSquare, who partnered the company on the project…
