Dig after unidentified objects found at housing site

Investigative work has begun at a development site earmarked for affordable housing, to identify a number of "underground anomalies".

Plymouth City Council said digging at the site between Bath Street and Martin Street in Millbay, where planning permission for 135 homes has been granted, would take up to seven weeks.

Several objects have been found at the site in recent years including a 50kg (110lb) German World War Two bomb in January which led to a large cordon being set up and people being asked to leave their homes.

Chris Penberthy, cabinet member for community safety, said they did "not yet know" what the objects were but assessment was necessary and the area was "safe".

Previous uses for the site near the city centre have included a commercial premises, brewery, builder's yard, nightclub and car park.

The council said should anything be discovered which required further assessment, there was the small possibility a cordon could be set up as with previous incidents.

Penberthy added: "Given the history of the site, there is every chance they could be nothing more than old infrastructure or equipment associated with previous uses of the land.

"However, before development can begin, those objects need to be properly investigated and assessed.

"That's exactly what these specialist works will do."

Andrew Lawrie, Head of Development at Plymouth Community Homes, said the works were "precautionary" after a number of "underground anomalies" were detected in previous surveys.

He said the work was being done to "ensure the land is fully safe before construction progresses".

Lawrie added that "the site remains safe" and there was "no need to avoid the area".

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