Three £600k 'super homes' with AI to be demolished after failing building inspection

Three high-tech ‘super homes’ with artificial intelligence worth £600,000 each are to be demolished after they failed a building inspection.

The ultra-modern homes in Cambridge were set to feature artificial intelligence to control heating, lighting and security.

But inspectors said the steel frames of the partially-built homes, part of a small development called 'Cityglade,' failed building standards and deemed them unsafe.

Now the detached homes are being demolished and razed to the ground before being rebuilt by a new contractor, causing months of delays for the prospective buyers.

David Lewis, chief executive of county council-owned homebuilder This Land, said that buyers of the homes had been informed of the need to rebuild.

Hadham Construction, who designed and built the steel frames on the three houses, has had its contract terminated and it is now the subject of legal proceedings, Lewis said.

A spokesman from Hadham Construction denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the company was owed £250,000 for the work.

They said that it will challenge Cambridgeshire County Council in pending legal proceedings.

The spokesman added: "There have been two independent investigations into the structure and installation of these three houses and both have stated that the houses are perfectly capable of completion by HCL to the required standard to obtain full warranties.

"Various approaches have been made to This Land Ltd but no response has been received whether to company letters or solicitor’s letters.”

The houses were part of a 14-home county council-led development consisting of two, three and four-bed properties.

A promotional brochure describes the Cityglades homes as "truly unique" and says they will feature artificial intelligence to control heating, lighting and security.

The other 11 homes were unaffected by the steel-frame issues.

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