Fast, planning-grade coal mining risk assessments to remove uncertainty and keep developments moving forward.
Coal mining legacy can introduce real uncertainty into development, affecting foundations, earthworks design, remediation strategy and even site viability.
Our Coal Mining Risk Assessments are prepared with a clear understanding of how planning authorities and the Coal Authority review mining risk and apply conditions.
We focus on delivering clear, proportionate, planning-grade assessments that answer the critical questions regulators and lenders prioritize:
Where risk is low, we clearly state this. Where risk is identified, we define a clear technical pathway forward, aligned with investigation, design and remediation stages.
This approach avoids vague conclusions, unnecessary works and planning delay.
For project specific advice
Assessments are aligned with Coal Authority guidance and planning expectations.
We identify credible mining hazards and assess whether they pose a realistic risk to the proposed development.
Where risk is identified, assessments inform intrusive investigation scopes, foundation options and mitigation strategies.
Findings are translated into clear recommendations, avoiding ambiguity and uncertainty.
A Coal Mining Risk Assessment (CMRA) is a study required for developments within “Development High Risk Areas” as defined by the Coal Authority. It reviews historic coal mining records, geological information, and site-specific context to determine if legacy mining activity presents a risk to development.
A CMRA evaluates the engineering implications of specific hazards, including:
A well-prepared assessment does more than summarise records. It establishes whether credible risks exist and what, if anything, must be done to manage them.
While every scope is proportionate to the site’s specific geology and development scale, our assessments provide a comprehensive technical basis for planning approval.
Coal mining risk assessments often sit early in the development process.
Early-stage risk screening to inform site viability, or identify mining hazards early to allow for accurate abnormal cost modeling before you commit to a site.
Delivery of definitive reports required to validate applications and prevent the Coal Authority from issuing a holding objection.
Precise technical reporting to satisfy pre-commencement conditions, ensuring your construction programme can begin on schedule.
Where risk is confirmed, we provide a seamless bridge to Phase 2 Intrusive Investigations, managing the Coal Authority permit process and drilling specifications.
Review of site proposals and acquisition of essential Coal Authority and geological datasets.
Development of site-specific coal mining risk model to determine if legacy hazards impact surface stability or design.
Preparation of a planning-grade Coal Mining Risk Assessment. Issued within 5 working days of instruction.
Ongoing support, responding to Coal Authority or planning officer comments. Free revisions included.
We provide the expertise to simplify complex challenges for faster approvals of tough planning requirements.
Still have any questions about coal mining risk assessments or planning?
A CMRA is mandatory if your site falls within a Coal Authority “Development High Risk Area.”
This is where development is proposed in areas of known or suspected historic coal mining activity and planning validation or conditions require it.
Coal Mining Risk Assessments are issued within 5 working days of instruction.
Yes. We provide ongoing support to address any comments from the Local Planning Authority or the Coal Authority. Free report revisions are included as standard to ensure your conditions are discharged.
No. Our goal is to provide a proportionate assessment. We only recommend intrusive investigation if our risk model identifies a credible threat to the development that cannot be mitigated through desk-based evidence.
Yes. Where required, we design and support intrusive investigations and mitigation strategies.
