Watch as demolition works resume at Darwin Green development in Cambridge

Work to demolish 83 faulty new-build homes and plots on the Darwin Green development in Cambridge has resumed after a delay.

Diggers have demolished a number of buildings and structures at the site since starting work in January, reducing some of the new houses to rubble.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire was granted permission to knock down the fully and partially-constructed homes, which have faulty foundations, in December.

As the Cambridge Independent revealed in June last year, the developers identified the problems within the second phase of the development, referred to as BDW2.

At that time, the developers confirmed no-one had moved into them and said a “small number” of houses were affected – believed to be 36.

But it was subsequently confirmed that foundation issues had been identified on further plots at various stages of construction, taking the number affected to 83.

After completing phase one of the demolition, the developer has confirmed that work has now started on phase two.

That follows a delay prompted by council building control officers requesting the contractor cease work until a fence screening off the site had been “correctly erected”.

A third phase is expected and all demolition work is set to be completed by April.

In a planning application to Cambridge City Council for the demolition last autumn, the developers said tiles and other materials would be salvaged where possible.

Concrete and brick is also due to be crushed on-site and reused. A water cannon is being used to spray water and reduce the dust affecting neighbours on the wider development.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire said last June that “during inspections” of the site they found some of the homes did not meet their “usual high standards”.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes said in a statement: “Following the first phase of demolition, we can confirm that the second phase has now started.

“These works were initially delayed to facilitate a change in the fabric of the netting and to increase the length of the screen in order to provide greater protection to the existing residents of Darwin Green from the demolition works.

“On completion of the second phase of work, a third phase of demolition works will be undertaken.

“The demolition contractor, Demolition Services Ltd, is aiming 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.”