Homeowner 'lucky to be alive' after wall of new build home suddenly falls over
A homeowner is fortunate to be alive after the wall of his newly constructed house suddenly collapsed without warning.
Scott Ferney was away on holiday when the incident occurred on September 27, causing significant damage to the house in Oak Grove estate, Pembrokeshire. The incident is the second reported on the new build estate, completed in 2020 by Mill Bay Homes, with residents previously complaining of incidents such as flooding.
Scott's father, Kevin Ferney, said: "As a parent we want him [Scott] away from here just in case something else becomes unsafe. If he'd been here there could've been a fatality." Rhys Jordan, a Pembrokeshire county councillor, is striving to get answers for those left questioning the safety of their homes. He added Mr Ferney had a "lucky escape".
The wall of the home on the new build estate suddenly collapsed (Rhys Jordan)Fire crews from the Mid and West Wales Fire Service were called to the scene at around 4.30pm. A representative for the service said: "A section of a property's gable end had collapsed onto a garden building as well as a car parking area on the nearby roadway. Crew members were involved in securing the scene and cordoning the area. The electricity supply was isolated and a structural engineer assessed the property."
Mr Jordan pledged to arrange a comprehensive structural survey for every property on the estate to reassure owners about the safety of their homes, says WalesOnline. He has communicated with residents on the Oak Grove estate, informing them about an "incident" and promising to collaborate with the developer, Mill Bay Homes, to determine the cause of the collapse.
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In his letter, he wrote: "I must inform you that there has been an incident on the estate involving a section of property collapsing. Fortunately no one has been hurt in this incident. The fire brigade has promptly attended the scene and ensured the area is safe. Further investigation into this incident will commence as soon as the ongoing storm subsides. At this moment, the cause of the property failure is unknown."
He also mentioned he will be contacting Mill Bay Homes and Hale Construction to encourage them to attend a public meeting with residents. He added: "It is imperative you all feel safe and secure in your homes and I assure you your concerns will be voiced and addressed." Councillor Jordan also recommended residents to remain indoors during the severe winds brought about by storm Agnes.
A representative for Mill Bay Homes said: "We have been made aware of an incident at a property in New Hedges involving damage to a gable end wall. It's our understanding no one was hurt in the incident and that the area was made safe by the fire brigade. The homeowner has been advised to contact their Structural Warrantors and Building Insurers in the first instance who, where appropriate, will involve others to assist their investigations into causes and remedies. We will obviously fully assist these investigations."
"An earlier version of this article mistakenly reported that the homes were covered by a warranty with NHBC. The NHBC has confirmed it is not the warranty provider. We are happy to correct this and apologise for any confusion caused.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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