QUESTIONS were being asked yesterday about the stability and safety of part of an Aiskew building site after it emerged that serious civil engineering problems will mean the demolition of an expensive house.

The bottom end wall of the house, officially known as Plot 40 on the lowest part of the Horseshoe development being completed by Persimmon Homes (Yorkshire), collapsed this week during an underpinning operation and cracks appeared in the gable end.

Work began yesterday on demolition of the building.

The house, part of an estate being developed on the site of a former gas depot destroyed by fire six years ago, was not occupied and was still owned by Persimmon. Some of the houses on the estate sell for six-figure sums.

Families in two adjoining properties in the block of three overlooking the main A684 road have been moved into temporary alternative accommodation for health and safety reasons and that part of the site has been cordoned off.

A full investigation is under way into the collapse, but one local woman described it as "a disaster waiting to happen."

Hambleton District Council head of development control Maurice Cann, who visited the site on Wednesday, said: "It is too early to establish what has gone wrong, but something has gone very seriously wrong."

It is understood that the house wall collapsed as the property was being underpinned with piles for a second time to meet the requirements of Yorkshire Water in connection with a nearby sewer.

There have been local claims that the sloping site is subject to subsidence but Mr Cann said he was unable to comment on this.

He said: "It is a serious incident which will be fully investigated."

Ian Hessay, managing director of Persimmon Homes, Yorkshire, said: "Due to civil engineering works carried out at the Horseshoe development the foundations at Plot 40 have become unstable and the property will have to be demolished.

"We have made alternative accommodation arrangements for owners of the two adjacent properties and this will continue until all structural issues are resolved.

"Our primary concern is to look after the accommodation needs of adjoining neighbours and we are doing everything in our power to resolve these issues as quickly as possible."

Coun Bob Pocklington, vice-chairman of Aiskew Parish Council, who lives near the site, said: "It seems to be quite inept on somebody's part.

"They have worked with the levels on other parts of the site but there was nothing built into the plans to deal with this part. It seems to have been an afterthought.

"That part of the site has been a mess for a long time and I have been pressing Persimmon to get it tidied up.