General views of Evolution Cove, in Stonehouse, Plymouth which has been deemed unsafe.
After just 18 years, the flats are on verge of collapse (Picture: SWNS)

Dozens of people have been forced out of their homes over fears a block of flats could be about to collapse.

Cracks were discovered in the concrete frame in the car park of the 18-year-old building in Plymouth in December.

The city council has raised concerns about the structural integrity and fear it could collapse at any moment without structural props.

On the evening of March 20, new information came to light and residents were told to leave immediately.

On Friday, a prohibition order was issued, legally banning anyone from entering the building, including those wanting to collect personal possessions, and several nearby roads have been closed.

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Although the block is less than 20 years old, council engineers say it has been declared unsafe because of damage to key load‑bearing beams and significant cracking in the reinforced concrete frame, discovered in the underground car park.

Those structural elements support the weight of the flats above, and until temporary propping is installed, officials say there is a risk of falling debris or partial collapse.

General views of Evolution Cove, in Stonehouse, Plymouth which has been deemed unsafe. Residents have been moved out of the Plymouth apartment block in danger of collapse. // Residents have been forced to flee homes amid fears their 18-year-old block of flats could collapse. Dozens of people were told to vacate their flats when problems first emerged as the building was deemed 'unsafe'. Plymouth City Council in Devon put a 27-metre exclusion zone around the Evolution Cove block in Durnford Street, Stonehoue due to concerns about the structural integrity of the building. It has been gathered that the concerns are related to a cracking within the concrete frame in the car park and therefore prompt a risk of building collapse until structural props have been installed to support the building load. Photo released 23/04/2026
Residents said they have raised concerns about the building for years (Picture: SWNS)

A structural report seen by the Plymouth Herald says the underground car park contains overloaded transfer beams (concrete supports designed to carry the weight of columns above) which are showing widespread cracking.

Inspectors also identified moisture ingress, voids in the concrete and evidence of long‑term water damage, which they warned could be detrimental to the building’s structural integrity.

The report recommended the building be propped up with immediate effect and said residents should be moved out if the work could not be completed quickly.

Residents said they had raised concerns about the building for years, describing water leaking through the structure and visible deterioration in the car park below their flats.

One said they could hear water ‘dripping all over the place’ and claimed beams had stalactite‑like deposits forming beneath them. Some residents have said they are unsure whether they would feel safe returning to the building.

General views of Evolution Cove, in Stonehouse, Plymouth which has been deemed unsafe. Residents have been moved out of the Plymouth apartment block in danger of collapse. // Residents have been forced to flee homes amid fears their 18-year-old block of flats could collapse. Dozens of people were told to vacate their flats when problems first emerged as the building was deemed 'unsafe'. Plymouth City Council in Devon put a 27-metre exclusion zone around the Evolution Cove block in Durnford Street, Stonehoue due to concerns about the structural integrity of the building. It has been gathered that the concerns are related to a cracking within the concrete frame in the car park and therefore prompt a risk of building collapse until structural props have been installed to support the building load. Photo released 23/04/2026
Scaffolding has been put up near the flats (Picture: SWNS)

People who live in the 62 flats were put up in hotels by the building management company, Centrick, before being moved to apartments or bedsits.

Morgan Rees and wife Libby are currently living with a relative but feel they are being left in the dark.

They say they were given little detail at the time about what had triggered the sudden evacuation.

‘We haven’t been told why we’ve been evacuated,’ Morgan told ITV News. ‘We haven’t been told how long we’re going to be out for, or when we’re going to be allowed back in.’

The city council has said that people should be allowed to return home by the end of May, but not everyone is as hopeful.

Ryan Marsland, who runs the Fig Tree restaurant with wife Tanya, says footfall halved the day after the road closures.

He said: ‘I think it can cause businesses to shut down permanently. We know businesses that have lost thousands already – people don’t have the cash reserves we used to have. It’s just devastating.

Tanya and Ryan Marsland owners of The Fig Tree @ 36. Residents have been moved out of the Plymouth apartment block in danger of collapse. // Residents have been forced to flee homes amid fears their 18-year-old block of flats could collapse. Dozens of people were told to vacate their flats when problems first emerged as the building was deemed 'unsafe'. Plymouth City Council in Devon put a 27-metre exclusion zone around the Evolution Cove block in Durnford Street, Stonehoue due to concerns about the structural integrity of the building. It has been gathered that the concerns are related to a cracking within the concrete frame in the car park and therefore prompt a risk of building collapse until structural props have been installed to support the building load. Photo released 23/04/2026
Tanya and Ryan Marsland, owners of The Fig Tree, are facing drops in footfall (Picture: SWNS)

‘I am petrified – it’s very daunting.’

People in Plymouth have expressed frustration that the building is in its current state, considering it was built so recently.

Yannick Loué, 44, owns wine bar Le Vignoble, which is just outside the exclusion zone.

He said: ‘We are an independent business that is struggling right now, and it will struggle if this carries on.’

A spokesperson for Grey GR, owner of Evolution Cove, said residents would be given alternative accommodation for as long as necessary.

They added: ‘Data so far show building movement has been within tolerance levels.

‘A ground survey has been completed, and the findings are being used to develop back-propping designs. Once these designs are finalised, the propping works will commence.’

Leaseholders had already warned Parliament that they felt ‘unprotected’ by building safety legislation, years before the current evacuation.

Concerns about building safety at Evolution Cove pre‑date the current emergency.

In 2022, the residents’ association warned a parliamentary committee that leaseholders felt unprotected by building safety legislation, following the Grenfell disaster.

Residents said they had bought their homes in good faith believing the 2008‑built development complied with safety regulations.

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