RIP St. Leonard's - English Electric/GEC Measurements/M.R.I/Alstom.

[Thehooperman]

If you look on Drone Hub there's a shot from this week and it shows how big and how close to the extremities the houses will be.
This post has been shared across a few public groups. On one post there's seemingly a younger possible new occupant lecturing a former employee on how all the boxes have been ticked and the site is compliant and safe and flood free.
I'm guessing increases in downpours, more displacement and sheer force might teach her different, over time.
I'll guess nobody on here has bought on there, yet?

Out of interest did Measurements ever flood?

I know flood levels are higher these days so the area is more likely to flood.

I don't think the area where the houses is that much higher than Measurements was, certainly towards Fairway end of the estate anyway.

 

[Thehooperman]

DroneHub

Guess the Stafford location I hope these houses are floating ones, they are slap bang in the middle of a flood and this is only after snow and a little rain🤦 Getting insurance on houses like these...

www.facebook.com

I do believe that part of the sales pitch for this estate was "every man's home is his castle and every house here has it's very own moat......"

 

[GNM67]

The old 401 machine shop (would have been on the left in the above picture) would flood from time to time and the access road on the right would also.

Why they demolished the old building it was packed into the old basement then the whole area was raised about 4 foot so it should be ok

 

[gilbert grape]

Out of interest did Measurements ever flood?

I know flood levels are higher these days so the area is more likely to flood.

I don't think the area where the houses is that much higher than Measurements was, certainly towards Fairway end of the estate anyway.

The perimeter road round the meadows side was encroached numerous times while I was there and on the Sow side it spilled onto the field that we are now told is 2 metres higher, so this will force it elsewhere and I'd even fear for the junior school premises if it floods the others side, now.
We are, of course, allowed to be concerned about the unknown, especially if it's going to whack all of our insurance policies up!

 

[GNM67]

Walked around the estate today was going to get a photo from where my old desk would have been but they are still building there.
The area next to the river seems to be about 6ft above where it used to be.
Several deep water pits and the playground at the back hasn't been raised and so they paths are wet and muddy.

 

[Theresa Green]

All roads are uphill from here

 

[gilbert grape]

There are now numerous drone accounts out there so the affects and evidence are laid bare. The recent floods have been hugely documented so I found myself saving lots of pictures for reference. Seeing various comments and speaking to people it seems a common theme that developments are raised by 2 metres so they don't directly get flooded, like Meadow Way, but cant get out as the roads are flooded!
Its almost like "that's ok then!"

 

[kyoto49]

There are now numerous drone accounts out there so the affects and evidence are laid bare. The recent floods have been hugely documented so I found myself saving lots of pictures for reference. Seeing various comments and speaking to people it seems a common theme that developments are raised by 2 metres so they don't directly get flooded, like Meadow Way, but cant get out as the roads are flooded!
Its almost like "that's ok then!"

Why do people buy new houses on known flood areas? They aren't forced to.

I was reading some Facebook comments around the new houses at the bottom of St Leonards and a few of the owners were congratulating themelves in a very cavalier way that their house wouldn't flood as it hadn't in the 3 years they'd lived there. I'd bet huge money that many of these new estates will flood in the next few years. The water has to go somewhere!

 

[Thehooperman]

Why do people buy new houses on known flood areas? They aren't forced to.

I was reading some Facebook comments around the new houses at the bottom of St Leonards and a few of the owners were congratulating themelves in a very cavalier way that their house wouldn't flood as it hadn't in the 3 years they'd lived there. I'd bet huge money that many of these new estates will flood in the next few years. The water has to go somewhere!

And how do they even get insurance?

Why should the rest of us compensate their idiocy when they have to make flood claims and all of our premiums go up as a consequence?

 

[Mudgie]

Why do people buy new houses on known flood areas? They aren't forced to.

I was reading some Facebook comments around the new houses at the bottom of St Leonards and a few of the owners were congratulating themelves in a very cavalier way that their house wouldn't flood as it hadn't in the 3 years they'd lived there. I'd bet huge money that many of these new estates will flood in the next few years. The water has to go somewhere!

"Why do people buy new houses on known flood areas ?"
Probably because they are cheaper because a minority of people would live in them because a majority of us know they'll be liable to flooding and so wouldn't consider them.

 

[gilesjuk]

"Why do people buy new houses on known flood areas ?"
Probably because they are cheaper because a minority of people would live in them because a majority of us know they'll be liable to flooding and so wouldn't consider them.

Not cheaper in the long run as you'll find it difficult to get home insurance on them. Having home insurance (buildings cover) is usually a condition of your mortgage too.

When I was buying I consulted the flood maps and one house on Gladstone Way I was interested in was close to floods (there's a brook right by it). The same for Ampleforth Drive, plus you have the double whammy of having a terrible roundabout exit to get out of that estate.

 

[proactive]

Who needs insurance anymore. Isn't that why we have Go Fund Me?

 

[Mudgie]

Not cheaper in the long run as you'll find it difficult to get home insurance on them. Having home insurance (buildings cover) is usually a condition of your mortgage too.

When I was buying I consulted the flood maps and one house on Gladstone Way I was interested in was close to floods (there's a brook right by it). The same for Ampleforth Drive, plus you have the double whammy of having a terrible roundabout exit to get out of that estate.

Giles,
But so many people don't think of "in the long run", nor does our Government with its PFIs that have cost us taxpayers a fortune over the past thirty years.

 

[gilesjuk]

Giles,
But so many people don't think of "in the long run", nor does our Government with its PFIs that have cost us taxpayers a fortune over the past thirty years.

Well, I would hope the buyers solicitors would do the necessary checks? Surely the mandatory survey on behalf of the bank providing the mortgage would do this too? they stand to lose their money if they can't sell the house in the case of a repossession.

Use of PFI is a decision made at local councils, you can debate whether the option should be available but when they're using it to fund zero risk projects like replacing street lighting I'd say there's a case for banning its use.

 

[Lucy]

If the local councils were properly funded then you could ban it.

 

[kyoto49]

Well, I would hope the buyers solicitors would do the necessary checks? Surely the mandatory survey on behalf of the bank providing the mortgage would do this too? they stand to lose their money if they can't sell the house in the case of a repossession.

Use of PFI is a decision made at local councils, you can debate whether the option should be available but when they're using it to fund zero risk projects like replacing street lighting I'd say there's a case for banning its use.

I know recently of someone who bought a house with a mortgage. The house had had major structural work done on it. The previous occupent didn't declare it and the current owner only now knows because its continued to move and he now can't sell it. One wonders if any checks were done at all as its clear as day it's had significant repairs, even for the untrained eye

 

[gilesjuk]

I know recently of someone who bought a house with a mortgage. The house had had major structural work done on it. The previous occupent didn't declare it and the current owner only now knows because its continued to move and he now can't sell it. One wonders if any checks were done at all as its clear as day it's had significant repairs, even for the untrained eye

Well, I do wonder what the mortgage surveyors actually do. I think they turn up and check if there's a house there and if it looks like it's about to fall down. If not they write the value of the house as paid on the valuation. I'm sure they mentioned mine was in need of modernisation, you don't say.

 

[Noah]

Many years ago had a mortgage surveyor whose only comment about the house was that the toilet seat was cracked and needed to be replaced.

 

[tek-monkey]

When I bought this place part of the mortgage condition was I had to have a 'proper' survey at the cost of about £600. Almost every comment was followed by 'you may want a professional to confirm' and he spent less than 10 minutes there. Didn't even look in the loft yet was able to document what was up there (wrongly).

 

[kyoto49]

Many years ago had a mortgage surveyor whose only comment about the house was that the toilet seat was cracked and needed to be replaced.

I had one who said the bedroom door had paint splashes on and they needed removing. I mean wtaf!