The developer that has been demolishing new homes with faulty foundations at Darwin Green in Cambridge has confirmed that they will be rebuilt to the latest building standards after the city council sought legal advice on the issue.
Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire is entering the final phase of demolition work on 83 fully and partially-built properties at the development on the edge of the city that it discovered had faults.
City councillor Katie Thornburrow, executive councillor for planning, building control and infrastructure, told a meeting last week (March 19) that the council had been told “the replacement dwellings will not be built to the new standards for ventilation, conservation of fuel and power, and mitigation of overheating” and that the authority building control service was “in the process of taking legal advice as to our next steps”.
But a spokesperson for Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire has since confirmed: “Although we have planning permission to build the homes at BDW 2 to the older building regulations, we have taken the decision to build all new homes there, not currently under construction, to the new Part F, L and O building regulations.
“This investment by us will deliver multiple benefits including decreased carbon emissions and more thermally-efficient homes for our customers, helping to reduce their energy bills.”
Cllr Thornburrow (Lab, Petersfield) responded: “I’m pleased to confirm that following discussions with BDW in recent weeks, they confirmed to us this week that when they build the homes following the recent demolitions, they will meet the new standards.
“The new standards provide for better ventilation, conservation of fuel and power, and mitigation of overheating, which are a vital part of efforts nationwide to mitigate and equip people for the impacts of climate change. We’re grateful to BDW for working with us towards this outcome.”
No one had moved into any of the impacted properties, the demolition of which is costing the company millions of pounds.
