Fury as gardens and driveways collapse near 300-home new build estate

Furious locals say their gardens and driveways are collapsing after building work started on a new estate.

Dozens of residents in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, were shocked when cracks appeared in their driveways.   

Large chunks of people's gardens in George Street also sank by up to 3ft amid fears of a major landslip.

The damage is believed to have been caused by powerful vibrations coming from diggers doing groundwork on a nearby new housing development.  

Construction has been temporarily halted as investigations are carried out into the building work, which developers blame on "heavy rain".

Resident Susan Tighe, 81, says a large area of her lawn and driveway has sunk into the ground.  

She said: "It was about two months ago it started, they're just doing the groundwork at the moment.

"You can't see anything and you can't go on the site. We're high up and the fields lower down.

"We think they've taken some of the soil away. We think it's the vibration of the machinery that's caused the problems.

"The vibration of the machinery has shaken the earth around the garden. I could just see a crack in the ground. It wouldn't stop."

"It's a civil engineering job. If they don't do anything about it, then it will fall in the field."

Linda Jackson, 74, who lives on the street with her husband Richard, 76, said: "Our concern is because they've dug away the bank and left a 15ft drop from our garden. We're concerned that the same thing will happen to us and our lawn will fall away."

"Apparently they're going to build a retaining wall but no one has been here to communicate that with us. We just pick bits up here and there."

She added: "Our garden could slip away. It's a significant drop. When I walked down there I couldn't believe it.  We were overlooking the field but now we're overlooking a building site.

"We don't have a right to a view, but we have a right to know what's going on. What I would particularly like is some assurance as to what's happening."

"We've been living here since they were built 50 years ago and nothing like this has ever happened before."

"Most of the people around here are retired. We've had our garden landscaped, so if it disappeared into the field it would be very upsetting.

"We've had a lot of rain but that hasn't caused the issue before. The noise and the dust is incredible.

"I can't put white sheets outside because the air is full of dust. It's just 'bang bang' all the time."

People living in nearby Norwood Close have also reported damage to their homes.  

John Whitehead, 70, said: "We're really concerned because they have dug 20 feet down at the bottom of our garden and we are extremely worried it might happen to us next."

"The builders were digging last week and my wall clock was vibrating, so I'm worried it might have damaged my house." 

A spokesperson for Ashberry Homes, a part of Bellway, said: "Ashberry Homes has been made aware that there was some earth movement at the western boundary of the Sutton-in-Ashfield site over the weekend.

"Some of this movement has been identified as historic, while other parts have been identified as occurring more recently within the site boundary.

"We have investigated the root cause of the issue and determined that heavy rain over the weekend has exacerbated this problem.

"We have now put temporary measures in place to restrict any further movement and planned works to the area in question will be starting imminently to provide a permanent retaining structure along this boundary.

"We have had meetings with contractors and the resident, and have been investigating the cause of the problem further and how best to remediate it."