Shocking photos show that new construction projects have been destroyed after dozens of disruptions
SHOCKING aerial photos showed a brand new housing complex being razed to the ground.
Diggers have now demolished dozens of new-build homes at the Darwin Green site in Cambridge.
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Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire admitted last year that 36 properties had to be demolished and rebuilt due to foundation problems.
They have now completed phase one of the demolition and have started phase two.
A third phase is expected and all demolition work is expected to be completed by April.
Large screens have been installed to protect adjacent properties from dust and debris during the demolition process.
In a planning application to Cambridge City Council before its demolition last autumn, the developers said tiles and other materials would be salvaged where possible.
Concrete and brick would also be crushed and reused on site.
Barratt David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire said last June that they discovered “during inspections” of the site that some homes did not meet their “usual high standards”.
They added that the “most effective course of action” was to “demolish and rebuild the properties.”
The huge project, located 2.5 kilometers north-west of the city centre, has approval for up to 1,593 homes, as well as a new primary school, supermarket and library.
The new community will also feature a central park, with 15 hectares of open space, and sports facilities.
Phase two of the project is currently under construction, with two, three, four and five bedroom homes now selling between £575,995 and £850,995.
It is likely that some of the affected homes have already been sold, but have not yet been occupied.
Some of the affected homes are still under construction.
Barratt and David Wilson Homes posted in a statement: “Following the first phase of demolition, we can confirm that the second phase has now begun.
“These works were initially postponed to allow for a change in the structure of the mesh and to increase the length of the screen to better protect the existing residents of Darwin Green from the demolition works.
“A third phase of demolition works will be carried out after completion of the second phase of works.
“The demolition contractor, Demolition Services Ltd. aims to complete all demolition works by the end of April 2024 and we will continue to provide an update on the progress of the demolition works.”
Fear of the neighbors
Many residents fear that their properties will be razed to the ground next.
Christian Sutherland, 43, previously told The Sun that the prospect of new-build homes on the estate being razed to the ground was “frightening”.
His four-year-old son Cameron needs a tracheostomy tube to help him breathe.
The software engineer said: “The amount of dust that will be kicked up is terrifying.
“We are just settling here and really like the community, but this doesn't give us confidence.
“We have been offered a longer warranty – an extra fifteen years on top of the existing ten, but we are concerned about the lack of checks.
'How did the houses they are now demolishing ever get to the point where they could be built? This should be basic material for a home builder.
The amount of dust that will be raised is terrifying.
Christian Sutherland
'It seems that with major developments the councils take a back seat and let private companies have all the responsibilities.
“They are driven by profit, so it is not a safe situation.”
Daniel Welby, 33, an HR analyst, said: “I feel very sorry for those who were about to move into these properties.
“Some people were just days away from moving in.”
“It's a worrying situation because no matter how much they assure us, this is now the reputation of the estate, so if we wanted to sell, would this put people off?”
Mark Wells, 61, a finance agent who paid £650,000 for his four-bed home, said: “It worried us at first but they had a third party come in and do a report on these houses and they said all Phase 1 -houses are in order.
“The affected houses immediately showed large cracks. Some families moving had already exchanged contracts, but had not yet finalized when they found out.
“It will cause a lot of suffering because chains are affected. It will be a matter of cost savings, I'm sure.”
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