RESIDENTS living close to the new K Village shopping outlet claim the building work has taken its toll on their properties.

Homeowners opposite the new £100 million shopping complex in Kendal say that work by the developers has left cracks in the walls of their houses.

Helen Dudley, of Lound Road, contacted The Westmorland Gazette after she noticed cracks on both exterior and interior walls.

Miss Dudley, who works as a property developer, said the damage was beginning to show after two years of work.

“The properties on Lound Road are old. Mine was built in around 1850 so, of course, they crack, but I have experienced about 10 years’ worth of cracking in the past year,” said Miss Dudley.

“The houses have a really sturdy construction and so far the damage is not structural, but internal plaster has cracked in my house all the way up the staircase.

“Myself and other residents should not be left responsible for fixing damage created by giant construction companies, especially after all the patience and understanding that has been demanded of us so far.”

Rob Ellerby, who lives on Lound Street, has also found a large crack on the side wall of his house.

“I have lived in the house for some 30 years and I have never seen a crack as significant as the one that has appeared,” he said. “They took all the water out of the ground to construct the underground car park and I dare say the dry spell we had has not helped.

“It is we homeowners who will have to foot the bill after putting up with the noise, dust and discomfort for the last two years.”

A spokesman for developer Kendal Riverside Ltd said: “We appreciate that our neighbours on Lound Road have been inconvenienced by the development. This is very nearly at an end and we greatly appreciate their patience and tolerance.

“With reference to the cracks, we will undertake, with the contractors, a review of the pre-work condition survey and once complete we would welcome a meeting with Miss Dudley to address the issue and deal with it in the appropriate manner.”

South Lakeland District Council’s portfolio holder for economic prosperity, Coun Graham Vincent, who went out to see the damage for himself, said: “The houses are old and cracks do appear, but there is evidence to suggest that many of the cracks have appeared recently which could have been caused, or attributed in some way, to the work being done around them.”