An independent inquiry is to be held after a block of modern townhouses were made so unsafe by flooding they must be demolished.

Newcastle City Council is to investigate the flooding at Spencer Court, Newburn, which has led to families being evacuated from their homes.

Water gouged out material from under the four-storey development, leaving some of it resting on piling.

Demolition work on the most severely affected block is expected to start next week.

The operation will take a few days - but it could take up to two weeks to also remove all of the rubble from behind the homes.
A council scrutiny inquiry will report into wider study of the floods this summer.

Cabinet member for quality of life Henri Murison chaired a public meeting which was also attended by Dunelm Homes, the developers of Spencer Court, and Northumberland Estates, the owners of a nearby culvert.

He said: "I hope by the council looking into the events at Spencer Court we can start to make sense of what has happened and how all those affected can be helped while their lives are disrupted.

"The council is determined to do all that it can to support those affected and help the parties involved to rectify the situation as soon as possible."

Newcastle City Council has said the planning application was properly processed, with consultation from Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency.

Meanwhile, Dunelm Homes said the cause of the damage was the collapse of a culvert "on land owned by others" and denied responsibility.

A spokesman for Dunelm Homes said: "We have acted with the thoroughness and rigour with which we conduct our business and the care with which we work with our customers."

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• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water Cascades past houses in Newburn, Newcastle today after yesterdays floods left them in a state of collapse.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water Cascades past houses in Newburn, Newcastle today after yesterdays floods left them in a state of collapse.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  An aerial view showing cars travelling along the A64 Scarborough to Leeds road as it passes over flood water from the River Ouse in York, North Yorkshire, communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left 400 homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  An aerial view showing the village of Sutton upon Derwent, East Yorkshire, surrounded by flood water from the nearby River Derwent as communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left 400 homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The High Street, in Newburn, Newcastle, where flooding has left business owners devastated and deposited huge amounts of mud and debris.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The High Street, in Newburn, Newcastle, where flooding has left business owners devastated and deposited huge amounts of mud and debris.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Two actors from a tourist attraction The York Dungeon, make their way into work along a flooded street in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Residents carry sandbags to riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Riverside offices were difficult to access with rising floodwater in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Floodwater rises in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Floodwaters rise in city centre streets in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos. See PA story WEATHER Wet PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos. See PA story WEATHER Wet PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The fields surrounding Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire are flooded following countrywide storms.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Flooding in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Natalie Stroughair sandbags a taxi office in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The bridge in the centre of Tadcaster which has been closed as flood waters from the River Wharfe continue rise.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A woman gets a piggy back ride to a Taxi Office in the centre of York, as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Office workers are evacuated from their premises in York city centre as floodwater rises in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the water levels rise as riverside properties in York are under threat from the River Ouse which continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Natalie Stroughair sandbags a taxi office in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Council workers sandbag riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A man looks over rising flood water from the River Wharfe in the centre of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Elevated walkways carry pedestrians over floodwater in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A local riverside resident carries tea to Council workers who were placing sandbags at riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A resident of Knaresborough wades through water following flooding from the River Nidd in the town.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car makes its way through Rickerby Park in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water surrounds the 18th green at Stoney Holme golf course in Carlisle after more heavy rain overnight.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water covers the fairways at Stoney Holme golf course in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Flood water covers grassy areas of Rickerby Park in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A cyclist avoids flood water on the closed A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A resident of Knaresborough wades through water following flooding from the River Nidd in the town.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A van is forced to turn around after flood water closed the A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A cyclist avoids flood water on the closed A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A stranded motorist is helped by a member of the emergency services after being rescued from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Residents look on in Morpeth as the water levels rise near their homes, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters inspect a stranded lorry on a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters make their way along a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.