Homeowners say a new housing estate appears to have been "built on broken promises" as they report finding four-inch nails, glass, and rubble in the gardens.
But others say a friendly community has started to develop in the Buttercup Leys estate in Derby and Persimmon Homes claims they have received positive feebdack.
People in the estate in the Boulton Moor also claim the site playground is "dangerous" because of large rocks and they face a long drive to the remote village of Chellaston for food and other things they need.
Many say they are having to depend on a milkman for the time being but more amenities including a local centre, are planned as construction continues.
DerbyshireLive reports families began moving into homes in 2020, with homes on the market for between £200,995 and £431,995.
Shona Powell, 33, a stay-at-home parent of her son Eesha, who is seven, said: “The first shop you get to is past two roundabouts, the Premier in Chellaston. That we use for little bits.
“Then further down you have the Co-op, but it’s not easy access, especially as Snelsmoor Lane is closed at the moment.
"It would be worse if I didn’t have the car. Currently I have to have the milkman come down on Mondays and Thursdays.
“If we are missing something for dinner we have to go quite the way, as I say it’s lucky I drive.
"Also difficult is people parking on the curb, and they’ve only just been told not to park on the verge. I sometimes go for a walk, but there are not many things for children as I thought.
"And my doors are always getting stuck, plus we have to keep our bins round the back and can't put them at the front. I've asked for my own bin shelter at the front of the house."
Shona has mixed feelings about further development on the estate.
She added: “It’s going to be quite busy with the supermarket, assisted living, and community centre to come.
"I’m a bit worried especially about the community centre as they can be quite busy with parties and things.
“But I’m very happy with my neighbours, they’re lovely people. Saying that though I’m not really feeling a big community spirit yet, and I’ve been here since 2020.
"With the lack of a local park, it’s difficult to meet parents because you usually get chatting whilst watching the kids, and from time to time the police have had to come out for a few people being a bit noisy.”
Her neighbour, Jo, said: “We used to have hedges lined up protecting our privacy a bit from the road but kids have pulled them up. And all the time I’m picking up dog poo on the front lawn.
"We also found glass, massive four-inch nails, and rubble in our garden when we first moved in. We had to dig it all up and resurface it ourselves.
“But we are near Elvaston Castle, and the people that we know are pleasant. In this little row everyone’s really nice to each other.
"And there’s a lovely parish lady that goes along during hours and hours of her own time picking up the litter from the road.”
Jo’s daughter, who asked not to be named, said: “The park was initially unsafe for kids with big boulders and a waterway right next to it. My kids are feral, that’s not safe.
"But I also think that that one was designed for older kids. I had a house after moving in in 2017 on the other side of the estate but have since moved in with my mum.
"I feel like the whole estate has been built on broken promises. But the location’s great.
"We are near the M1, and the estate is developing a nice community spirit that wasn’t here before. The best bit about the place is during Halloween, there’s a little jitty that’s turned spooky for the kids. They do make that effort for the kids.”
Others say that the experience of moving to the estate has been has been seemless.
Dariusz Szwedo, 29, who owns a commercial photography business, had nothing but positive things to say about his new home.
He said: “It’s actually been really smooth, I find it absolutely fine. Like any other new house we were expecting some snags, but there’s been nothing out of the ordinary.
"It’s good for the money I paid, but if you don’t drive you might struggle a little bit. They are building something opposite, a petrol station/supermarket, all sorts.
"It’s my first house and I’m happy after moving in two years ago just before Covid.
"When we moved in actually, we were the only ones here on the whole street, pretty much here on our own for the whole of the pandemic.”
Housing firm Persimmon Homes said they have received positive feedback from the site's new residents, and that issues with the play area were rectified quickly.
A spokesman said: “We strive to rectify any matters raised with us as quickly as possible and are disappointed if our service fell short on this occasion.
"A high percentage of our customers on our Buttercup Leys development are happy with the service they have received which is reflected in our 5* HBF survey.
"The open space being referred to is fenced off around the boundary for safety reasons, but is adjacent to a sustainable urban drainage system which is a requirement of the local authority to provide adequate draining of the site.
"Following the opening of this play area and subsequent settlement of the soil, some larger stones did come to the surface, but this was dealt with promptly by our contractor.”
