Proposal to rebuild home destroyed in explosion

Three homes were damaged in the explosion on New Year's Eve

A house which was damaged in a gas explosion may be demolished and rebuilt, if plans are given the go-ahead by the council.

Three terraced homes, on Hugh Street in Bransty, Whitehaven, were damaged on New Year's Eve, leaving three people seriously injured and a number of families forced to move out.

Optera, which specialises in structural repairs for the insurance sector, has subsequently applied to Cumberland Council to carry out an extensive overhaul to 27 Hugh Street.

Planning documents state the three-bedroom home had already been partly demolished for safety reasons, with the latest plans proposing to knock it down entirely and rebuild it like-for-like.

A report from structural engineers WDS said they had carried out an inspection in the days immediately following the explosion earlier this year.

The blast, which took place at number 28, resulted in "extensive damage" to the home in question, as well as to neighbouring properties at number 27 and 29.

Demolition work to make the homes safe was carried out earlier this year

"The explosion blew the roof off number 28, and caused the front wall to bow outwards and partially collapse," the report said.

It stated all three homes had suffered roof damage and "extensive cracking" as a result of the explosion.

Work to partially demolish numbers 27 and 28 was completed in February.