Subbies evacuated before roof collapse at partly built flats near Christchurch

A Midas site near Christchurch, Dorset, has reopened after workers had to be evacuated at the weekend before a building collapsed.

The Health and Safety Executive is carrying out an investigation alongside Midas after the incident at a pair of luxury apartments under construction at the UK-based contractor's Iridium development in Mudeford.

Subcontractors were evacuated on Saturday before the roof fell in onto the lower floors, bringing down the scaffolding. All managed to escape without injury.

Cracks are believed to have been spotted earlier in one of the building's walls, and a balcony began listing on Friday. Scaffolders had been called to shore up the wall on Saturday morning, but it collapsed shortly afterwards.

A spokesperson for Midas Construction said: “An isolated part of the development site was the subject of structural movement to one dwelling over the weekend. The HSE made its initial visit to the site on Monday and the remainder of the site reopened today. Remedial works to the affected area will commence today and the road will also reopen today.”

The affected building has now been stabilised.

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