Demolished Cambridge homes being rebuilt 'will meet new standards'

Last year problems were found with the foundations of some of the new homes, off Huntingdon Road on the northern edge of the city

A developer rebuilding new homes that had to be demolished has refuted council claims they would not comply with new industry standards.

Barratt & David Wilson (BDW) razed some 80 properties at Darwin Green, Cambridge, due to problems with the foundations.

The city council said the rebuilt homes would not meet new regulations.

BDW said homes not currently under construction would meet current standards.

On Tuesday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said Cambridge City Council's planning and transport scrutiny committee was asked if the developer would build replacement homes in accordance with new regulations.

Katie Thornburrow, Labour's executive councillor for planning, building control and infrastructure, said: "BDW Homes confirmed that the replacement dwellings will not be built to the new standards for ventilation, conservation of fuel and power, and mitigation of overheating; they will not be built to those standards.

"3C Building Control, the council's shared in-house building control service, are in the process of taking legal advice as to our next steps."

Some of the houses being demolished were at an advanced stage of construction, although none had been finished and buyers had not moved in, the firm said

It was initially reported that 36 newly-built houses were affected by the issue and needed to be demolished

Since the meeting, a spokesperson for BDW Cambridgeshire said it would build all new homes, not currently under construction, to the new regulations.

A spokesperson said: "Although we have planning permission to build the homes at BDW 2 [Darwin Green] 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."

It was initially reported that 36 new houses at Darwin Green were affected by the issues with the foundations and needed to be demolished.

BDW said the houses were at various stages of completion but none were occupied, and 83 of the new-build homes had been torn down.

Katie Thornburrow answered questions at the city's planning and transport scrutiny committee on Tuesday