Geo-Environmental - Legacy Mining Stability Assessments

Our team of experts have extensive experience identifying potential legacy mining risk to the development of appropriate and economic strategies for the identification and stabilisation of old shafts and shallow mine workings to facilitate development.

Industrial development and mineral extraction have left a legacy that has significantly impacted development across extensive areas of the UK. This relates not only to the extraction of coal but also to other minerals such as chalk, ironstone, limestone and gypsum, to name a few.

The first stage of this process involves a mining risk assessment which is the minimum requirement under planning for sites located within a high-risk development area. This typically applies specifically to coal mining but can be extended to all other types of mineral extraction.

Where a significant risk to surface development is identified, M-EC can design, supervise and interpret ground investigation works to confirm the risk to surface stability. Our experts work closely with our structural engineers to formulate the most cost-effective strategy for the design of foundations and, where required, the stabilisation/treatment of shallow workings and mine entries. Our specialist team also design and supervise the ground stabilisation process.

Mineral resources remain across the UK, and in many areas, these are safeguarded under planning law. Our experts can provide consultancy advice on the viability of mineral extraction and the potential impact that development may have on the available resource.