How to persuade a builder to clean up his site?

S

stuartmc

Registered User
Messages
58
Hi Folks,

I'd appreciate any advice on this one...

A builder owns a site bordering our housing scheme. He sought planning permission for 4 houses. Permission was granted for 2 houses on half the site. The other 2 houses were refused - after the neighbours in our scheme got together to object.

The non-developed half of his sight was an over-grown dump. At an RA meeting, I was asked to contact him and ask that the site be cleaned up. I asked and he agreed!

He cleared out the trees and rubbish and knocked an old block shed. However, he has left a lot of rubble on the site, building material, wooden beams and plastic pipes. He has also left a ditch/trench around the site, which may be unsafe. The site is not fenced off - it is totally open, unsafe and a terrible eyesore.

I have spoken to the builder several times to ask him to clean the site up and he's fobbing me off - he says he doesn't know what the future holds for the site and therefore does not want to do anything.

So far, I have been quite pleasant but my patience is wearing thin as my neighbours are expecting me to sort it out.

I'm not sure what, if anything, I can do to force the issue with the builder. Any ideas?

Cheers.
 
stuartmc said:
my neighbours are expecting me to sort it out.
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Why? Because you initially asked and were proactive in chasing it up? Maybe they also need to start pulling their weight in relation to this matter?
I'm not sure what, if anything, I can do to force the issue with the builder. Any ideas?
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There are also extensive laws on the health and safety aspects of building sites that may be relevant. The HSA may be able to advise.
 
Try derelict sites department with your local county council. We had a similar problem in our private housing estate but not sure if your builder has walked away from the site or is still there.
Either way talk to derelict sites who will advise you
P
 
Go in to the council offices, speak to whoever deals with retention bonds. get them to make a call to the builder/developer. Should work a treat.
 
The trench is most likely to protect against unwanted camping.

I think that if the site is safe, then there would not be an onus on the owner to lanscape it for the aesthetic benefnit of a neighbouring development.
 
Thank you all for your advice. I will try each of these angles.

Apparently, an associate of the builder told my neighbour that planning has been granted for him to build on the part of the site that is currently unsafe/ugly. There hasn't been any notice of a planning application though, so I'd guess this is a continuation of the bull I've been fed.

Cheers.
 
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