FIVE homes built in an old quarry on the slopes of the Malvern Hills had to be evacuated when rocks fell from the cliffs above.

Hillside Close in Old Wyche Road was built in the mid-2000s, but the development, comprising five townhouses, is now boarded and fenced off until work makes the rock face safe.

The first fall came in the winter of 2012/13, with rocks landing a few metres from the back door of one of the houses.

Rock falls have continued ever since, forcing the evacuation of the houses, with all five families put in temporary accommodation until the problem has been fixed.

Experts say that boulders falling from the slope have the potential to hit the ground floors of the houses, and even in some cases the first floors.

And there are even fears that if nothing is done, the instability could affect the B4218 Wyche Road, which runs just a few yards from the top edge of the quarry.

The National House Building Council, which provides consumer protection for homebuyers, has applied to Malvern Hills District Council for permission to fell trees on the site.

The application is the first step in carrying out “essential geotechnical stabilisation operations that will extend over the entire rock face and slope to the rear of Hillside Close”.

A geological summary attached to the application describes the quarry walls as “near vertical up to 40m high rock slopes in close proximity to the houses”.

“The slopes of the quarry were not remediated sufficiently as part of the development and are currently in an unsafe condition,” says the report.

The proposed remedial work involves installing nets on the rock face. Trees and shrubs need to be cleared to allow access for the work to be carried out, because some of the trees appear to be unstable, and because tree roots growing into cracks in the rock make the instability worse.

The Gazette understands that the homes were evacuated in November 2014. The houses were built by developer Tyne Ltd , and in 2009, they were for sale with prices starting at £245,000. The Gazette could not contact Tyne Ltd for comment yesterday.

Estate agents Connells described the properties at the time as suitable for buyers seeking “contemporary property in a truly delightful setting”.

At the time, at least one Gazette reader, Philip Kedward of Hill View Close, criticised approval of the development, saying the old quarry was a haven for wildlife.

In 2008 Hillside Close was shortlisted for the Malvern Civic Award, held by the town’s civic society each year to highlight innovative or praiseworthy architecture.