Leaseholders at Bedern Court in Ripon, where four apartments were demolished this year, have voted to seek planning permission for a replacement block.

It follows reports from engineers which showed that no evidence of sinkhole activity was found on the site.

The 29 leaseholders, who are shareholders in Bedern Court Ltd, which owns the freehold of the residential properties, took the decision at their annual general meeting.

They did so after receiving a report from Harrogate-based engineering practice Hill Cannon, which included findings from a geotechnical investigator.

A thorough inspection of the foundations of the stricken block was made possible after it was demolished and the investigation carried out by Mugen Geo Ltd, of Hebden Bridge, concluded “there is no evidence of a sinkhole”.

Large cracks were visible on the properties before they were demolished

Surveyor Richard Willis, who is the managing agent for Bedern Court, said:

“It was discovered that the reinforced concrete raft under the block had not been installed properly and subsequently failed, causing extensive structural cracking which necessitated the evacuation and demolition of the building.

“All other properties on the site, where the foundations were properly installed, are unaffected and with sinkhole activity ruled out, a planning application for a replacement block will now be brought forward.”

The red brick residential development close to Ripon Cathedral was built in 1986 and in October 2020, the apartments at 1,3 and 5 Bedern Court and 17 Skellgarths, were evacuated after being deemed unsafe for human habitation.

The damage caused to the block was blamed over a number of years on sinkhole activity in the area.

Controlled demolition of the four properties was carried out over seven weeks and completed in early March.