A LISTED cottage in Dorset could be demolished after a “sudden catastrophic collapse” of a wall rendered the building dangerous.

Specialist heritage builders were carrying out approved work on Church Cottage in Studland in July when the incident took place.

They were working on the westerly facing wall with hand tools when the collapse happened.

A statement submitted as part of an application to level the cottage said the builders “miraculously managed to jump clear and avoid being buried alive”.

A structural engineer later carried out a report on the building and concluded the most appropriate solution would be to carefully dismantle the building.

In the months since, urgent temporary works took place under directive from building control in order to prevent further collapse.

Bournemouth Echo:

A design, access and heritage statement for the proposed demolition said the cottage, which dates back to at least the 18th century, was given Grade II listed status in 1984.

The property was subject to a fire in the 1870s, while it was hit by the Great Storm in October 1987 when hurricane speed winds hit the south coast.

The statement said the roof was lost and the occupant who lived there at the time recalls being woken by the event but surviving unscathed.

Builders were working to remove the cement render on the exterior of the building when the outer skin collapsed without warning.

Bournemouth Echo:

The statement says: “In summary, and in consultation with a variety of conservation professionals and structural engineers, it would seem that the rubble stone walls cannot be repaired. Tying a new outer skin to the existing chalk skin is not possible due to the poor condition of the chalk blocks. The removal of any further cement render is too dangerous to undertake, but to leave the render in place prevents inspection of the wall, and makes it vulnerable to damp and further deterioration.

“This application proposes therefore to dismantle the building in its entirely and make the site safe, especially given its location on the edge of a road that is heavily used by pedestrians.

“An application for a new dwelling on the site will follow. Whilst this was not the intention of the project at the outset, it seems that there is no other sensible course of action.”

The application is currently being assessed by Dorset Council planners.