You'll find phase-1 residents may have quite a bit to say, not all positive (I speak as one). Hopefully others will chime in. Do visit the show flats. I've not seen the other phases, but one would hope Countryside / L&Q are learning from their mistakes...Build quality (for phase-1): Flats are made with double-layer plasterboard walls on studding between flats, single layer for internal walls, and single layer plasterboard ceilings, below a concrete floor pan. Floors are typical veneer or fitted with unremarkable contract carpet. Acoustic noise *does* travel. For example, I can hear my neighbours washing machine rumbling through the walls when it's spinning, although it's not obtrusive. I can also hear footsteps and furniture being dragged by the people above, which I do find obtrusive. There is a clause in the lease stating noisy activity must cease at 11pm, but that apparently doesn't stop people re-arranging their furniture at 2am. I can't comment on noise for later phases.Cat-5/6 cable was used for telephone wiring, although in my flat the cabling was damaged such that typically only 1 or 2 pairs out of the 4 were viable. This ruled it out for computer networking, which was annoying.The kitchen specification is "okay". Typical for a mass-market new-build I suppose. Appliances are Electrolux, washing machine is Zanussi. Kitchens are supplied by "Concord Kitchens" if memory serves, and you will not be able to get replacement doors / hinges etc.. because they don't deal with individuals (they were unhelpful when I contacted them).The bathrooms (in a 2-bed) are okay. Plastic bathtub, sinks with mixer taps, shower cubicle etc... Construction quality for my flat was reasonable enough, and it was well finished. I had to get a couple of water leaks fixed within the warranty period, but this was done quickly and efficiently. I did repaint the hall and living room from the supplied yellowy-beige to white, which lifted the place immediately. I don't know who chooses colour schemes for new builds, but light purple doors and light yellow/beige walls don't cut it for me. My balcony overlooks the park, I was lucky. Other balconies will look out over the various phase-X building sites, or straight at another apartment building or whatever, so "your mileage may vary". Sometimes the balcony overflow pipes can block, and I suspect it won't be too long before I need to replace the wooden decking if it rots. There was talk of someone on the construction crew getting hacked off with the developers, and deliberately blocking a downpipe, which caused leaks.All the windows are Nordan double or triple (can't remember) units, fairly high quality I think. The thermal performance is outstanding. I don't have to put the heating on in winter and I have to use air-con in summer. The radiators are imho oversized for the flat. Single panel rads would be ample. I may put window film on some of the windows to reduce the solar heat gain. I don't have service charge info to hand, but I can dig some out when I get home. Suffice it to say, these charges never go down, and we do wonder what we get for our money (although it is itemised in a statement). Also, the incumbent energy supplier ("Insite", who are related to L&Q) recently increased the standing charge for our heat supply by 37% **without explanation**. I do wonder if that's because they weren't making enough money from the heating charges due to the building's efficiency :-)There are security problems with phase-1 in particular, because the developers fitted maglocks to the perimeter doors, and some internal doors. I can't comment on later phases. Maglocks don't actually "lock" a door like a deadbolt, they simply hold it with magnetic force. A sharp tug and the door pops open. As a result of this, several residents of phase-1 (myself included) have had bikes stolen from the "secure" bike stores, and random people have been challenged wandering round our building. I had to contact the ACPO "secured by design" team, and had them visit phase-1 to show them how bad the problems were. Frankly, the ongoing security problems with phase-1 make a mockery of the SBD scheme, so pay no attention to any advertising blurb that says "Secured By Design". Getting L&Q to actually act is hard work, although I have to say they did - eventually - fit a CCTV camera into our bike store. I should point out that the security issues are still ongoing.One of the lifts (not ours) was apparently installed so badly that a maintenance company refused to maintain it.I would think carefully before subjugating yourself to the whims of a large and faceless bureaucratic organisation especially if you're noise-sensitive. Since many of the flats in phase-1 were probably buy-to-let, there isn't a particularly strong residents association or "community feel", and my neighbours have changed 4 times since I've moved in. I don't even know their names.Having said all the above, and in the interests of balance, I've been there for 3 years, I do like my flat, and visitors remark on how nice it is. I'm in no hurry to move.Hope this helps - any questions feel free to ask.
Jonathan McDougall ● 3516d