Early on the morning of September 21, 2025, residents of Green Field, a new housing estate in Darwen, Lancashire, awoke to a scene that would upend their routines and raise fresh questions about local development. A massive sinkhole had opened up following a night of heavy rain, causing the collapse of a road surface and prompting the declaration of a major incident by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Emergency services, utility companies, and the site developer quickly converged on the scene, as the council’s first priority became clear: ensuring the safety of everyone in the area.
The drama began just after 7 a.m., when emergency services received a call about the sudden appearance of a sinkhole on Green Field, part of Tilia Homes’ Taylor’s Green development. According to the Manchester Evening News, one resident posted on social media, “Just to make you all aware a massive sink hole has appeared on Green Fields drive. It’s going under our garden and both houses are being evacuated. The fire brigade said they’ve never seen one this big.” The sense of shock and uncertainty was immediate, as families were told to leave their homes and the area was cordoned off by police.
Seven homes were evacuated in total, with the council confirming that it was supporting the affected families and considering opening a nearby leisure centre as a temporary refuge. As the morning unfolded, a fire engine from Darwen Fire Station and a drone unit were dispatched to assess the situation, and Cadent Gas engineers arrived to check for any risk to gas infrastructure. “Our job is to make sure everything associated with gas is safe and our engineers will be leaving site soon,” a spokesperson for Cadent Gas told Lancs Live.
By midday, the scene was one of intense activity. The council, emergency services, utility companies, and private security were all present, working in tandem to secure the site and prevent further danger. The road through Green Field was closed, though Pole Lane remained open to traffic. Residents were urged to avoid the area, and the council emphasized that updates would be provided as the situation developed. “Our priority is the safety of all residents in the area,” the council stated repeatedly across several outlets, including BBC Lancashire and The Shuttle.
As news of the sinkhole spread, so too did speculation about its cause. While the immediate culprit appeared to be the night’s heavy rainfall, some locals pointed to deeper, longstanding concerns. Green Field had been developed on land known to be a former mining area, and several residents recalled warnings about the risks this posed. On Facebook, one resident remarked, “A sinkhole, where there are old mineshafts, who would have guessed it!” Another added, “I remember our old neighbour saying this would happen before the houses were even built.” These comments, reported by BBC News, echoed a sentiment of frustration and unease that had simmered since the estate’s construction.
By early afternoon, the response effort had settled into a steady rhythm. Engineers from Cadent Gas and other utility companies continued to monitor the site, while council representatives coordinated with the site developer and emergency services. At 3:30 p.m., the street was still cordoned off, with officials and gas engineers on scene. The incident, though still ongoing, was deemed to require less intensive emergency service support, and just before 4 p.m., the official major incident declaration was stood down. However, the council made it clear that the situation was far from resolved. “The incident is still ongoing and Blackburn with Darwen Council will continue to work with partners and specialists at the site,” a spokesperson told The Shuttle. “Our priority is the safety of all residents in the area, and six homes remain evacuated in Green Field, off Pole Lane. The council is supporting these families. A road closure is also still in place for Green Field. Pole Lane remains open.”
The decision to maintain the evacuation of six homes—down from the original seven—underscored the seriousness of the incident. Council officials promised continued support for the displaced families, while also working to determine when it would be safe for them to return. The ongoing road closure and the presence of specialists suggested that further investigation into the cause and extent of the sinkhole would be needed before life in Green Field could return to normal.
Throughout the day, communication between the council, emergency services, and residents remained a top priority. Updates were shared via local news outlets, social media, and direct contact with those affected. The council’s message was consistent: resident safety came first, and all efforts were being made to manage the situation responsibly. As BBC Lancashire reported, people were urged to steer clear of the area, and the council assured the public that further updates would be shared as needed.
The incident also reignited debate about the risks of building on land with a history of mining. While the immediate focus was on managing the current emergency, some residents and observers called for a review of planning and oversight processes to prevent similar events in the future. The fact that warnings had been voiced during the estate’s development—and now, tragically, appeared prescient—added a layer of complexity to the community’s response.
For the families forced out of their homes, the day was marked by uncertainty, disruption, and anxiety. Yet there was also a sense of gratitude for the swift action of emergency responders and the support provided by the council and local agencies. The presence of private security and the consideration of additional refuges, such as the leisure centre, reflected a community pulling together in the face of adversity.
As evening approached and the major incident status was lifted, the story of the Darwen sinkhole remained unfinished. The evacuated families, the cordoned-off street, and the ongoing investigations all pointed to a recovery process that would take time and care. For now, the residents of Green Field—and indeed, the wider Darwen community—were left to grapple with the aftermath and to hope that lessons learned would help safeguard against future surprises lurking beneath their feet.
