The Coal Authority has raised concerns over planning permission being sought to build a detached three-bedroom family home on land close to a farm.

Pendle Borough Council received the application, from Michael Coyne of Rossendale Road in Burnley, at the beginning of June, which is seeking to erect the property on vacant land, next to Castercliffe Cottage, Walton Lane, Nelson.

The land, which is a former garages site is situated to the west of Heightside Farm and would include a garage and space for three cars.

Supporting documents submitted with the application state: “The land is currently occupied by dilapidated garage buildings and bounded by a combination of fencing and walling.

“The plot is located immediately adjacent to two existing dwellings (Heightside Farm and  Castercliffe Cottage) and is accessed by a track which currently serves four dwellings in total.

“Applications for similar forms of development, beyond but in close proximity to settlements have been approved in recent years elsewhere in the Borough, which include Calf Hall Lane, Barnoldswick; Coal Pit Lane, Colne; Colne Rd, Kelbrook; and Ghyll Lane, Barnoldswick.

“The site was originally occupied by three garages, utilised by the previous owner.

“The remains of the structures are still in situ and the plot has a clearly delineated curtilage, which will be retained.

“The built form of the proposed development is modest, proportionate to the size of the land and the scale/massing of adjacent dwellings.

“Accordingly, the redevelopment of this brownfield plot represents sustainable development and the principle is compliant with Pendle’s Core Strategy.”

A consultation was carried out on the plans and while receiving no objections from Lancashire County Council’s Highways Department, nor United Utilities, except for a recommendation to review the drainage systems, it did raise concerns with the Coal Authority.

A statement read: “I have reviewed the proposals and confirm that the application site falls within the defined Development High Risk Area.

“The Coal Authority records indicate that within the application site and surrounding area there are coal mining features and hazards which need to be considered in relation to the determination of this planning application, specifically probable shallow coal mine workings and a thick coal seam outcrop.

“The Coal Authority objects to this planning application, as a Coal Mining Risk Assessment Report has not been submitted as part of the application.

“In accordance with the agreed risk-based approach to development management in Development High Risk Areas, the applicant should be informed that they need to submit a Coal Mining Risk Assessment Report as part of this application.”

Comments on the planning application have now closed and a decision will be made in due course depending on whether a Coal Mining Risk Assessment is carried out or not.