Coal mining reports: checking what's underneath a North East home

A coal mining report — formally a CON29M — is an official search from the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority). It sets out the recorded coal mining at and around a property: past, present and planned workings, mine shafts and adits within 20m, previous subsidence claims, mine gas, and whether the property sits in a Development High Risk Area. Where more detail is needed, a Consultants Coal Mining Report adds seam depths and the extent of the workings.

Why we recommend one

Deep workings have usually settled long ago, but shallow workings and old mine entries can still cause ground movement — or, rarely, sudden collapse. For a cracked house on the coalfield, the report answers two questions at once: whether mining is a plausible cause of the damage, and whether it affects any building work you are planning. It is quick, cheap and completely non-disruptive, which is why it usually comes early in an investigation, alongside the visual inspection and before anyone starts digging trial pits.

What is involved

The report is desk-based — no site visit, nothing to dig, and it is usually returned within a day. We then review it against what we found at the property.

One honest limitation: it is based on records. Mine plans were not legally required before 1872, so older workings may be unrecorded, and recorded shaft positions can be approximate. A clean report lowers the probability of a mining cause; it cannot abolish it.

What it costs

Item (Mining Remediation Authority 2026 prices)	Cost incl. VAT
Residential CON29M coal mining report	£50 – £60
Consultants Coal Mining Report	£172 – £195
Mine Entry Interpretive Report, where a shaft is nearby	£175 – £202
CR Design Services review and advice	Quoted per job

What the findings typically mean

Finding	Typical next step
Not on the coalfield	Coal mining ruled out.
Deep workings only	Mining unlikely to be the cause. No further action.
Shallow workings below or nearby	Further assessment. Ground investigation may be needed.
Mine shaft or adit within 20m	Mine Entry Interpretive Report and a site check.
Damage consistent with mining	A subsidence damage claim to the Mining Remediation Authority.

Next steps

We review the report and confirm whether mining is a likely factor in what we have seen. Note that claims for coal mining subsidence damage go to the Mining Remediation Authority, not your buildings insurer — a different route from every other cause on this site. Any sudden hole or ground collapse should be reported immediately to the Authority's 24-hour emergency line.

Guidance for homeowners in England. Costs are indicative at 18 October 2026 and depend on the property and ground conditions. Reviewed 18 October 2026.