A new homes development in a council joint venture has faced a host of challenges, it has emerged.

Disputed highways advice about the steepness of an access road embankment, tests for possible underground mine shafts and potential extra costs of up to £95,000 have hampered the Pendle Council scheme at Further Clough Head, near Nelson.

Borough chiefs disagree with county engineers over highways advice about the embankment.

The site is being developed as part of the borough's PEARL ventures.

An executive report asked councillors to agree an extra £95,500 from the council’s capital budget towards completing the scheme, given outline consent for 200 homes in 2017. This was followed by full permission for 98 homes.

A report stated: “Following further investigation and design work, it became apparent 200 units would not be viable on such an undulating site and with increased building costs.

"It is now anticipated a reduced number of 129 properties will be developed with more open space.

"There will still be a minimum of 20 per cent affordable homes. The planned mix is 103 private and 26 affordable homes.”

Funding had been received via Homes England to construct an access road. But there was a need to relocate a badger sett, carry out boreholes to identify historic mine works and any remediation work, as well as embankment works.

Boreholes identified a potential mine shaft around 30 metres below. This needs further investigation and mitigation.

If a mineshaft is found, grouting will have to be done and a verification report produced. If this is not done, the access road will not be adopted by Lancashire County Council. The embankment also needs infilling to be adopted.

The Pendle report adds  “The original geotechnical engineer from Lancashire County Council who initially approved the design has left the county council. 

"The new engineer is insistent the embankment complies with highways design standards for the road to be adopted, despite the initial approval given previously."

Borough officials are querying whether they can recover extra costs associated with the access road from the county council.

In September one estimated cost of extra works was £65,925. Then came a revised estimate of £95,500.

If no mineshaft is identified, there would be a saving of around £50,000, but then came a further revised figure of £38,000 for potential works.

Cllr David Whipp raised concerns, supported by others. He said the county council should be fully responsible for the embankment works costs, according to council minutes.

Rose Rouse, Pendle’s chief executive, has twice raised the matter with the interim chief executive at Lancashire County Council.

The executive agreed to an additional financial commitment from the capital budget, towards completing the scheme and further talks over the county council's responsibility for and meeting the full cost of the embankment work, estimated at £38,000.