Broxtowe Borough Council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve an additional £233,000 for the reconstruction of Brinsley Headstocks after unforeseen ground conditions and higher-than-expected construction costs pushed the estimated total cost to £453,000.
The authority originally allocated £220,000 for the scheme after Cabinet approved a direct replacement of the historic wooden structure in July 2024.
A report due before Cabinet on Tuesday 29 September says the project has since faced several challenges, including the discovery of an uncharted mine shaft which did not appear on historic plans or records and required further investigation.
Groundworks were also more complex than anticipated because of buried rubble and other obstructions beneath the site.
Those works have now been completed and a reinforced foundation has been installed. While the former structure was set directly into the ground, the replacement headstocks will stand on a concrete plinth intended to protect the timber from moisture and extend the structure’s lifespan.
The council initially received quotations which placed the cost of the timber framework at about £260,000. Officers concluded that the prices were significantly higher than expected and did not demonstrate best value.
Following direct discussions with specialist suppliers, alternative options have been identified which could reduce the cost of the timber framework to between £150,000 and £220,000.
The quotations are still being assessed, and due diligence and technical evaluations must be completed before the council selects a preferred option and appoints a contractor.
Construction is expected to take place largely off-site using specialist oak sourced from France, before the completed sections are assembled at Brinsley. Subject to final approval and the chosen contractor being ready to begin, work is expected to start in late 2026 or early 2027, with completion anticipated by Easter 2027.
Further work will include restoring, shot blasting and repainting original metalwork from the headstocks. The council said it was working with specialist contractors to ensure the reconstruction preserved the heritage significance of the structure.
The wider project has already included the creation of a bench using timber from the original headstocks and a memorial orchard commemorating the 33 miners who lost their lives at the site.
Ponds have also been extended in partnership with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to support biodiversity and water voles, while access improvements have been made.
Funding secured so far includes £42,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a £5,000 Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust grant and £100,000 from developer Section 106 contributions.
The council said it would continue pursuing external capital funding, including possible support from the East Midlands Combined County Authority and the Coal Authority. Any remaining amount would have to be met through prudential borrowing, which would create continuing repayment costs for the authority’s revenue budget.
The additional £233,000 would increase the project budget from £220,000 to £453,000 and provide flexibility for any further unforeseen costs during construction and restoration.
Cabinet is being recommended to approve the revised budget, funded through a combination of external capital grants, Section 106 contributions and prudential borrowing. The additional funding has not yet been approved.
