‘I’ve totally given up hope’: West Midlands residents still living with landslide almost three years on
One resident’s car is unable to leave the close, due to the landslip covering the road, and the vehicle is now covered in moss
A Cradley Heath estate has seen a plague of issues for residents following its initial build in 2020 on a former railway cutting.
Haden Cross Drive in Cradley Heath has seen residents “left out to dry” with no change to a landslip almost three years on.
The 53-home estate off Halesowen Road has a coppice which was part removed for the housing to be built. The materials used to maintain the remaining coppice were not strong enough leading to the landslip three years ago, which has since encroached onto nearby properties.
Dunedin Homes, based in Redditch, was given permission to develop more houses on the nearby Farmhouse Close estate despite the ongoing issues on Haden Cross Drive. In June 2026 David Kay, a government planning inspector, overturned Sandwell Council’s rejection and granted Dunedin Homes permission to build six more three- and four-bedroom homes nearby.
Haden Cross Drive residents claim they still face issues including none of the street lights working and plumbing issues. There is a patch of grass on the site which belongs to the council but its crews are unable to mow as no vehicles can get past the landslip. This has left one resident to mow it himself.
One resident can’t get their car out of the close, due to the landslip covering the road, and the vehicle is now covered in moss.
Residents of the site refused to disclose their names and wished not to appear on camera.
One homeowner said: “The windows haven’t been cleaned for years and tradesmen can’t do any jobs. Sandwell Council have washed their hands of it.
“I don’t think it’s ever going to get done. We have letters every month from the developers saying they’re going to court but nothing apart from that ever happens. I’ve totally given up hope.”
Another added: “We can’t give up because something has got to happen. At the end of the day we have to be able to get a car in and out and live our lives.”
Another resident said: “We’ve kind of grown accustomed to it now.
“The major kick in the teeth was the fact the new houses have been allowed to be built before the landslip was fixed.
“I haven’t been able to park outside my house for three years so I have to walk our young child down the street in the dark and rain.”
A Sandwell Council spokesperson said: “It is the developers’ responsibility to clear the rubble or soil that has fallen across the highway as a result of the failure of the retaining structure. We understand that the developer has advised residents that they are seeking legal recompense for the failure of the structure.
“We fully understand the frustration that residents are feeling in relation to the ongoing issues created by the failed retaining structure. As the highway and structures are not adopted, the council has no powers to rectify this failed structure, we hope for the sake of residents that the developer rectifies matters as soon as possible to allow residents to fully access their driveways and gardens.”
The Express & Star has attempted to contact the developer for comment.
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