Joseph Homes

The development is nice and one of the nicest, if not the nicest, of the whole Millbrook Park. I particularly like the positioning next to the Panoramic Park. The courtyard is also very pleasant. The surroundings of the development at the top of the hill are really very nice

The development is mostly okay. It’s flanked by a park and is very quiet with a secure car park. The design is somewhat distinctive and stands apart from other developments being at the top of a hill. However, there are some challenges, particularly around design that seem like obvious oversights. My plot is south facing and with the large bits of glazing, is prone to overheating. Even on a cool day (10C outside) it’s not uncommon for the living area to be 25-30C during the afternoon (no heating turned on, just clear skies - I know, handy with energy prices but I’m constantly dehydrated!). In summer, I had temperatures exceeding 37C indoors, which I tried to mitigate by keeping windows open, running a portable AC and such but it was just too much. I’ve complained about this but am told everything is to spec - so now I’ve requested some UV reflective film and a copy of the architect’s solar analysis but await an answer on that. Likewise, my balcony is highly prone to wind vortexes and I’ve not really been able to enjoy it (every contractor that’s been out there agrees). A couple of the apartments, like mine, are exposed rather than sheltered with brickwork. Wind speeds are high, with my heavy patio furniture being toppled so often that I’ve resorted to chaining it to the balcony. I’ve requested some wind mitigation measures but once again, the response was “it’s to spec”. Annoyingly, because of the wind, I can’t leave my balcony door open to cool the flat as it acts like it’s going to fly off (sadly, nobody thought to include some form of latch for the doors). Otherwise, fit and finish has been hit and miss. Most appliances and such are fine - others have noted internal noise isolation isn’t great and you can often hear drainage/appliances etc. However, the appliances and such are solid. Floors, skirting and windows are lower quality than expected and I’ve seen flaking, separation of sealant, sloppy finishing and like others, extremely scratched glazing (literally every window). The upside is repairs to the smaller stuff is usually pretty quick and the management is very polite and responsive in this regard - especially with the transparency we get via Clixifix. Your mileage may vary. At the height of summer, my balcony doors drooped on their hinges, scraping the patio…another indicator that perhaps the materials used weren’t suitable for the level of sunlight hitting this plot. I’ve also had a recurring issue with one my Juliet balconies not sealing completely- a small bit of air leaks through and I can hear a lot of wind noise. I’ve also had loose cladding but given the sensitivity around that word, that one was repaired SUPER quickly :) Lastly, the development comes with bike storage but its placement is odd. You have to bring your bike into the lobby, take it up a small flight of stairs to a mezzanine level, then take it all the way down a residential corridor before trying to pivot it into a room at the end. I imagine it can be disruptive to folks on that floor and it just makes it really inconvenient for quick hops in and out. I’d have thought the secure underground car park was a natural fit. I know the tone here reads mostly negative but I’m confident that folks in the right plots are having a lovely time. My issues are very likely limited to the few plots that share similar characteristics.

The location is great, really nice views. The flats from this development are also good value for money in my opinion. The flats are really modern, with underfloor heating, really good double glazing windows, a built-in ventilation system, etc. Some of the buildings are too close together though and in general there are too many developments for the size of the area.

Development is lovely, building quality terrible… there is a leak in my flat and nothing has been done to repair it. I am so stressed every time it rains… terrible experience with my first property :(

The location and quality of the development is superb. However, the management charge is overpriced for the service it provides. For example, the security measures are impractical for daily usage, residents having to leave the property to pick up deliveries such as groceries and furniture.