Developer to demolish and rebuild 84 homes due to problems with foundations

The foundations of the newly built homes were found to be insufficient

Some new homes will have to be demolished (David Davies/PA) (PA Archive)

A developer is to demolish and rebuild more than 80 new homes due to problems with their foundations.

Darwin Green, less than two miles from Cambridge city centre, is still under construction and has outline approval for 1,593 new homes.

In June, developers Barratt and David Wilson said they had “discovered issues with the design of some of the foundations” of some homes under construction on phase two of the estate.

They said in a letter to residents at the time that the foundations of 84 “incomplete and unoccupied” homes “were found to be insufficient given the geology of the next phase”.

Initially, they said that 30 homes would need to be demolished and rebuilt, and the remaining plots would “also require work to remove the foundations and any other structures that have been started”.

In documents submitted to Cambridge City Council this month, the developers said that “circa 83 units” would need to be demolished.

In the letter to residents in June, the developers said that “some of the properties which require demolition had been reserved by our customers”.

“We have met with all of the customers whose homes are affected on Phase Two and have offered them a range of options and support,” they said.

“We are pleased that many have decided to continue with their purchase of a new home at Darwin Green.”

We sincerely apologise for any negative impact this situation may have on you and we are fully committed to minimising any impact of the remedial work as much as we possibly can

Barratt David Wilson Cambridgeshire

The letter, from Barratt David Wilson Cambridgeshire, added: “We sincerely apologise for any negative impact this situation may have on you and we are fully committed to minimising any impact of the remedial work as much as we possibly can.”

The developer said it had been working with the local authority and its demolition contractor to prepare a plan which has “as little impact on existing residents and the wider environment and community as possible”.

Demolition proposals have now been submitted to the local authority and are awaiting a planning decision.