Bulldozers have begun the mammoth task of demolishing 88 properties on a huge new housing development on the edge of the Cambridge today after developers discovered fatal defects – just after it had been built.
Barratt David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire last year revealed last year that the homes, at the Darwin Green site in Cambridge, needed to be flattened after problems were identified with their foundations – at an eye-watering cost of £40million.
Four houses were knocked down today, and work is anticipated to continue on the site over the course of the next 12 weeks.
In a planning application submitted to Cambridge City Council for the demolition last autumn, the developers said tiles and other materials, including doors, windows, sanitary and kitchen equipment, would be salvaged wherever possible, while concrete and brick will be crushed on site and reused.
A statement issued by Darwin Green Construction earlier this week confirmed it had received permission to begin the “phased demolition”.
It explained: “To provide clarification, 36 homes currently at the roof stage of construction are scheduled for demolition and in addition to this, remediation will be undertaken on a further 47 plots, each at different stages of partial construction.
“Barratt and David Wilson Homes remains committed to ensuring that mitigation measures are in place to ensure that there is as little impact as possible to residents and the environment.”
A series of what were called “comprehensive measures” would be implemented to mitigate the impacts of the demolition works, the statement continued.
It added: “Seven monitoring stations will be strategically placed throughout the development, as per the approved plans, to monitor and control levels of noise, dust and vibrations.
“Additionally, fencing will be installed to screen existing residents from the works and water cannons are to be used to help dampen the ground conditions.”
No demolition works would be carried out at weekends, Darwin Green Construction has pledged.
