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Widow with Parkinson's 'broken' over new build house issues

A 75-year-old widow with Parkinson's disease has reported persistent cold and an inaccessible garden at her new build home in Lyneham, Wiltshire.

  • Gillian Chambers, 75, moved into her Linden Homes property in January 2025.
  • She reports a persistent cold draught and struggles to keep warm, spending £100 a month on energy bills.
  • Vistry, which operates Linden Homes, stated inspections have not identified a build defect for the draught, but the NHBC offered a resolution service and sent a builder for garden issues.

Gillian Chambers, a 75-year-old widow living with Parkinson's disease, has expressed feeling "broken" over issues with her new build house in Lyneham, Wiltshire. Ms Chambers moved into her property on Brooks Close in January 2025.

She described a persistent cold draught throughout her home, making it difficult to stay warm and necessitating the use of an electric blanket. Ms Chambers also stated she has purchased blinds to try and mitigate cold air from the windows, and her energy bills are currently £100 a month.

The house was built by Linden Homes, operated by Vistry. A Vistry spokeswoman said that their inspections have not identified any build defect that would cause the reported draught, and the heating system was found to be operating correctly. She added that Vistry representatives had visited the home and carried out works, including replacing flooring.

Ms Chambers also raised concerns about her sloped garden, which she finds impossible to walk on due to her condition. A National House-Building Council (NHBC) spokesman confirmed that a resolution service had been offered to Ms Chambers, and a builder was sent to "rectify" issues with her garden.

Why this matters: Issues such as cold homes or inaccessible outdoor spaces can affect the independence and well-being of older people and those with long-term health conditions, according to Age UK.

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