Building in a Coal Mining Area? A CMRA Can Save You Thousands

You’ve just secured planning permission for a new residential site in the Midlands. Things are moving fast. But the council has flagged your site as being in a “Coal Authority Development High Risk Area.” Now what?

Before you can proceed, a Coal Mining Risk Assessment (CMRA) is required. At EnviroSolution, we help developers meet this requirement quickly and effectively.

Many regions in the UK are affected by historical coal mining. Without proper investigation, you risk building over unstable ground, old mine shafts, or zones with potential gas emissions. A CMRA helps identify and mitigate these dangers—protecting your investment and future occupants.

Our experts analyse Coal Authority data, historical mine records, and local geology. We assess the risks of subsidence, shallow workings, mine entries, and potential collapse. If needed, we recommend mitigation strategies such as grouting, ground monitoring, or deeper investigations.

A recent client was preparing to build a care home in South Yorkshire. Our CMRA revealed multiple shallow mine workings just beneath the proposed footprint. We worked with their engineers to design reinforced foundations and submitted a mitigation plan that satisfied both the Coal Authority and the council.

Don’t overlook the hidden history beneath your feet. A detailed Coal Mining Risk Assessment can prevent costly delays, legal issues, or structural failures.