COUNCILLORS have been warned refusing controversial plans for 36 new homes at Halifax Road, Nelson, would result in a severe risk of costs being awarded against Pendle Council.

A 62-strong signature petition against the proposed development has been received, citing unsafe access, insufficient parking, unstable land due to mines and loss of green space.

Bosses at Liberata, who have been working in partnership with Pendle Council since 2005, want 36 semi-detached three bedroom homes to be built on the unused land.

If plans are approved, there will also be 72 parking spaces.

They say the site, which is 1.85 hectares in size, is undeveloped and unused greenfield land and located between Halifax Road and King’s Causeway, which is a mile stretch on the outskirts of Brierfield and Nelson.

The coal authority objected because a mining risk assessment has not been completed and therefore they say the council does not have the information to determine the outcome.

And a report to go before the policy and resources committee recommends approval of the application should be delegated to the planning manager, subject to the coal authority’s objection being resolved.

In a report to go before the council’s policy and resources committee, case officer Alex Cameron said: “The site is of little landscape value. It is almost entirely screened in localised views and is not prominent in distant views.

“If it were, the proposed development would be seen as a natural extension of the existing housing along Kings Causeway and Marsden Height Close.

“The development of the land for housing would not result in unacceptable harm to the landscape character or visual amenity of the area.”

A design and access statement submitted by the developers reads: “A key challenge in developing the site will be to ensure that dwellings are arranged so that they appear well grounded and in particular in responding positively to preserve and enhance the character, quality and integrity of both the existing site and its surrounding context.

“As such, there is clear potential to create an attractive and permanent addition to Nelson."