Why demolition work on new-build homes at Darwin Green in Cambridge has been paused
Demolition works at the Darwin Green development in Cambridge have been temporarily paused until screening is “correctly erected”.
Building control officers visited the site on Thursday (18 January) before requesting the contractor cease work.
The council says work can recommence once the screening has been approved by officers.
Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire was granted permission to knock down the fully and partially-constructed homes, which have faulty foundations, last month.
A spokesperson for Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and 3C Building Control told the Cambridge Independent this afternoon (Friday): “Officers from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and 3C Building Control undertook a joint site inspection on Thursday, and have been in discussion with BDW in respect to the planned demolition.
“This resulted in the council asking BDW’s demolition contractor to cease works on the phase two demolition until the screening is correctly erected.
“Once the screening has been approved by council officers, demolition works on phase two can recommence. Council officers will be undertaking site inspections every day (Monday to Friday) to ensure demolition works are compliant with the appropriate consents.”
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.
A spokesperson for Barratt David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire added: “The demolition works at Darwin Green were temporarily paused whilst we installed the fencing needed to start phase two, as agreed in the local plan.”
A seven-metre fence was due to be erected between the houses that need to be demolished and the houses where people are already living.
The fence will visually screen the work, reduce noise and help to prevent dust from reaching the houses.
Water cannons are also being used to reduce the amount of dust created by the demolition, and noise monitoring sensors have been installed around the site. The demolition process is expected to take 14 weeks.