BULLDOZERS are ripping down newbuild nightmare homes after 88 houses on an estate were found to have “absolutely shocking” defects.
Barratt David Wilson Homes has admitted that some houses on the newbuild estate near Cambridge were built with dodgy foundations.
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The developer said that 88 properties need to be knocked down and rebuilt – at a cost of £40million.
Four homes have already been razed, with demolition work set to drag on for 12 weeks.
Builders will salvage and re-use bricks, tiles, doors, windows and other materials where possible.
The newbuild estate has approval for up to 1,593 homes as well as a park, primary school, supermarket, library and sports facilities.
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But last June developers said some homes did not meet their “usual high standards” during inspections.
It is thought that a number of the homes slated for demolition have already been bought – but no-one has moved in yet.
Other doomed houses on the Cambridge estate are still reportedly being built.
Phase two of the newbuild development is currently underway, with homes selling for as much as £851,000.
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In June, Barratt David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire said: “As a five-star house builder we have an extensive quality assurance process.
“During inspections we found that a small number of unoccupied properties at our Darwin Green development did not meet our usual high standards.
“Unfortunately, the most effective course of action at this stage is to demolish the properties and rebuild them.
“We have apologised to the customers affected and understand their frustrations.
“But we are doing all that we can to lessen the impact of this for them.
“The most important thing is that the homes we build for our customers are of the highest quality possible.
“This means spotting and mistakes and putting them right, which is what we are doing here.”
Local councillor Cheney Payne slammed the “absolutely shocking” news at the time – telling the Cambridge Independent she “couldn’t quite believe it”.
