Two terraced homes collapsed on September 10 during a basement refurbishment, sparking fears of gas leaks and concerns over the safety of ongoing renovations.
Emergency services swiftly arrived on the scene in Richmond, and while no injuries were reported, the incident has left residents shaken and worried the safety of other ongoing house renovations.
Locals described the scene as a "big dust cloud," and while gas leak concerns were cleared by the evening, questions about the project's oversight and potential risks remain.
Two Richmond homes collapse amid basement refurbishment
Two houses undergoing renovation in Richmond collapsed unexpectedly on the afternoon of September 10.
The buildings, part of a redevelopment project to create 14 co-living spaces, were undergoing basement refurbishments when the incident occurred.
The structural integrity of the properties seems to have been compromised, resulting in the roofs caving in and significant damage to the upper and ground floors.
Planning permission was granted for the basements to be converted into amenity spaces but the sudden collapse has halted all progress on the project.
What caused the collapse?
The collapse of the two buildings appears to be linked to ongoing renovations, particularly the basement refurbishment.
The incident occurred just before 3pm with emergency services, including firefighters and police, responding quickly to investigate potential gas leaks, though none were confirmed.
'It could have fallen on someone and killed them,' local says
While investigations continue many residents are left concerned about the safety of similar renovation projects in the area.
Ramon, 50, who lives nearby, described the moment: "There was a big dust cloud... they were worried about gas leaks... then they put up some scaffolding to cover one wall that was wobblier."
A 52-year-old anonymous neighbour expressed concern about the lack of community involvement, stating: "The collapsing was shocking, especially with the risk of a gas leak... it could have been a disaster."
She says she was worried about her family, saying: "I was at work, and they possibly didn’t even know what was going on".
Elderly neighbour Judith Maddison, 86, voiced her outrage: "It could have fallen on someone and killed them... a woman with a baby had to wait in a café because it wasn’t safe.
“It’s been a site for ages and ages with nothing much happening and then suddenly they started doing something.”
The collapse has also raised questions about building oversight and the risks associated with such extensive refurbishments in residential neighbourhoods.
