Godstone High St fixed 18 months after 'enormous' collapse

Emergency services descended on Godstone - located around ten miles from Gatwick airport, near the Sussex border - on February 17, 2025, after a 62ft (19m) long and 10ft (3m) wide sinkhole appeared in High Street.

The street finally re-opened on July 31, 2026.

Surrey County Council said that works to fully repair and resurface the roads affected by the Godstone road collapse, were completed on Wednesday 8 July, 2026.

However, works to replace water infrastructure continued until the end of the month.

In an August 4 update, local water provider SES Water, said: "Our water main replacement works in Godstone High Street, following the road collapse, are now complete.

"The new water mains have been installed, tested and commissioned, and our teams have left site following the reopening of the High Street on 31 July 2026.

"We would like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience and understanding while these essential works were carried out."

At the time, some businesses and evacuated residents described feeling “let down” at a lack of information and support from local councils.

Photographs of the newly repaired street show a peaceful scene, with traffic once again flowing through the village centre and little visible sign of the dramatic collapse that made national headlines 18 months ago.

The exact cause of the collapse is still unknown, but geologists have suggested that underground erosion caused by a burst water main may have been a factor.

The reopening marks the end of a lengthy chapter for residents and businesses, many of whom faced disruption throughout the repair works.

Surrey County Council and SES Water have thanked the local community for its patience during the prolonged closure.