Families slam developer after bricks fell off their new properties

Families have blasted housing developers after loose bricks fell off their £595k new build homes – narrowly missing a woman below.

Firefighters were called to the row of four-bed homes when huge coping stones smashed through a patio set in a family’s garden in Keynsham, near Bristol.

The new build Courthouse Villas were created by developers Hawkfield Homes and are understood to have been completed in 2022.

Now, residents of the Courthouse Villas have expressed their relief that nobody was hurt and hit out at the site’s developers – who are now in administration.

In a statement, the residents said: ‘After having the shock of our lives when a row of large coping stones fell from the roof of our homes, we are so thankful that nobody was hurt or worse by the fall.

Courthouse Villas: Where the bricks fell from the rough after only being built two years ago

The bricks fell narrowly missing a woman’s head who was standing underneath 

The Fire Brigade was called to the property and quicky established a cordon 

‘In the cold light of day, we cannot believe someone fitted heavy stonework in this way.

‘The developers of the site, Hawkfield Homes, have done nothing to help us get to the bottom of the situation.

‘They entered administration and the directors seem to think they can wash their hands of it as a result.

‘We are the ones making these homes safe, because those who should have done so in the first place failed us.’

The problem stones, which had not been attached to the roof properly, were removed and replacements are set to arrive in the next few weeks, they say.

The new build homes were created by developers Hawkfield Homes and are understood to have been completed in 2022.

The developers Hawkfield Homes have gone into administration since the houses were built

Residents have asked for specialist builders to work on the property to fix the damage 

The residents have commissioned full structural surveys to assess their properties, they claim.

Now they are working with specialist builders via their building warranty provider to fix them, they say.

Hawkfield Homes is part of Land Promotions Ltd which appointed an administrator in November 2023.

The administrators have since said unsecured claims of more than £10m are ‘not currently anticipated’ to be paid.

The list of creditors stretches to more than 300 companies spanning construction, tiling, roofing, joinery, carpentry, stonework, scaffolding and engineering services.

Hawkfield Homes’ development of nine homes on the site of the old police station in Keynsham was granted planning permission four years ago, according to reports.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service crews were called out on June 29.

An Avon Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘On arrival, firefighters found that slabs and masonry had fallen from the roof of a residential property and used a turntable ladder to inspect and remove any remaining loose building material.

‘A cordon was put in place to ensure safety at the scene.’

Hawkfield Homes did not respond to a request for comment.