Our £400,000 newbuild homes have been completely ruined by freak accident – we’re cut off & can’t use our cars
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OWNERS of £400,000 newbuild homes say they've been completely cut off by a freak accident - and they can't use their cars. Residents in Haden Cross Drive, in Cradley Heath, West Midlands said the ground above their homes first began to slip in March 2024.
![[Rachael Howard, 34, has been letting stranded neighbours use part of her driveway]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SWNS_CRADLEY_LANDSLIP_012jpg-JS961615377.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
After a wall gave way, the desperate residents used sandbags to prevent any further demolition. However, the bad weather in recent months and weeks has seen tons of earth slide down. Including a massive mound, now completely blocking the road to the residents' cul-de-sac.
![[Reece Aleksander, 33, said having a one-year-old and not being able to use the drive has been a nightmare]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SWNS_CRADLEY_LANDSLIP_014jpg-JS961615311.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Now around 12 homeowners, in £400,000 homes, can't drive their cars up to or away from their homes. Dunedin Homes owns the private estate, however, the frightened residents say "no one is taking responsibility" for the landslip. Instead, they have to park far away and trek up to 100m through their neighbours' gardens to get home.
![[Now a massive mound is completely blocking the road to the residents' cul-de-sac]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SWNS_CRADLEY_LANDSLIP_010jpg-JS961615312.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
To make matters worse, the street lighting is yet to be switched on. Reece Aleksander, 33, an engineer said his drive - near the biggest slip - has been blocked since March. He said: "I'm certainly starting to get worried about it creeping further to where our garden is - it could end up breaking our garden wall and coming into our kitchen.
![[Residents in Haden Cross Drive in Cradley Heath are worried they could lose their homes entirely because of a landslip]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SWNS_CRADLEY_LANDSLIP_020jpg-JS961615393.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"We've got a one-year-old so not being able to use the drive has been a bit of a nightmare.". Despite the estate being privately owned, Reece believes Sandwell Council needs to step in. He said: "The council isn't interested because it's a private road but then what do we pay council tax for?.
![[At least a dozen homeowners have been affected by the issue]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SWNS_CRADLEY_LANDSLIP_001jpg-JS961614854.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
