Sinkhole repairs set to start over five months since collapse

Work to fill in the sinkhole which appeared in the driveway of a home on a new-build estate in east Lancashire is set to start later.

The sinkhole appeared in Greenfield, near Pole Lane, Darwen, on 21 September.

Councillors approved a planning application to fix the hole, which is estimated to be 100ft (30m) deep, and create a new temporary access road to allow the work to go ahead.

Initially six homes on the Tilia Homes' Taylor's Green development were evacuated, with three households remaining in temporary rented accommodation.

The Mining Remediation Authority estimated the hole could be linked to "former sandstone workings" in the area and has ruled out coal mining.

Harry Russell, from Tilia Homes' agent Lichfields, outlined progress on sorting the sinkhole to Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee.

"We are committed to getting the families back into their homes at the earliest possible date," he said.

The meeting also agreed the works would include drilling boreholes, filling and grouting and monitoring for hazardous gas before adding a reinforced concrete shaft cap.

Conservative planning spokesman Paul Marrow questioned why the housing development was allowed to go ahead when there were already concerns about possible unmapped coal mines in the area.

The council's growth spokesman Quesir Mahmood objected to Marrow's "insinuation" that proper checks had not been made before planning permission for the housing estate had been granted.

And he praised Tilia Homes for its "excellent response" to the collapse, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.