Sub-Sections
- Estates and Property Legal Services
- Historic Mining Records
- Licensing
- Permissions
- Planning and Local Authority Liaison
- Property Searches and Reports
- Public Safety and Subsidence
- Scanning Services
- Tenders and Contracts
Pages in this Section
- Services
- Scale of Charges for Authority Services
Scale of Charges for Authority Services
Effective from: 1st January 2009, charges quoted below are subject to VAT
- Estates and Property Legal Services
- Historic Mining Records and Records Management
- Licensing Charges
- Permissions Charges
- Property Searches and Reports
- Enquiries
1. Estates and Property Legal Services
Historic Enquiries:
In the first instance all enquiries should be directed to the Land Registry
(www.landregistry.gov.uk) and a copy of the certificate of the result of a search of the Index Map (provided by the Land Registry), together with copies of the Registers and Title Plan of each title revealed in it, must be provided as part of application to the Coal Authority prior to progressing a historic enquiry.
| For the research of: | Charges (£): |
| Historic enquiries relating to the ownership of land that may have been owned by the former National Coal Board or British Coal Corporation (initial investigation charge) | 85.11 |
| Historic enquiries that require in excess of one hour's work, will be subject to an additional hourly charge* (additional hourly charge) | 85.11 |
- * When historic enquiries do require in excess of one hour's work, the applicant will be notified in advance with an estimate of the additional cost prior to proceeding with the enquiry.
- The fee payable for historic enquiries is non-refundable even if, following investigation, the Coal Authority are unable to assist with the enquiry or provide only a partial response.
- All payments are required in advance of the work being undertaken. In addition to the cost of researching each case there are further charges associated with the copying of any legal documents - the Coal Authority's charges for document reproduction/copying is outlined above - please see our Historic Records - Mining Records and Record Management section.
| For copies of: | Charges (£): |
| Prior Approval Letter* | Free of charge |
| Letter of indemnity in lieu of granting retrospective consent* | 85.11 |
| Letter of indemnity in lieu of granting retrospective consent* - expedited fee (2 day turnaround) | 148.94 |
| Certified copies of letters previously given by the Coal Authority | 42.55 |
| Certified copies of letters previously given by the Coal Authority - expedited fee (2 day turnaround) | 72.34 |
Structural precautions letters can be acquired, by the vendor(s), from the Coal Authority by applying to the Head of Property at the Coal Authority’s headquarters. Any associated cheques should be made payable to The Coal Authority.
- * Please provide a copy of the conveyance containing the provisions or the relevant extracts from the Registered Title and state the nature of the works and the land on which the works will take place
2. Historic Mining Records and Records Management
Visitor inspection rooms are available between the hours of:
- 09:00 to 12:30
- 13:00 to 16:30 (16:00 on Fridays)
- All visits are subject to the making of a prior appointment
- Please note that the photocopying of abandonment plans is not permitted
| Visits: | Charges (£): |
| To view abandonment plans, photographs etc. (half-day) | Free of charge |
| To view abandonment plans, photographs etc. (full-day) | 51.50 |
| For the printing of: | Charges (£): |
| Black and white, paper prints (per metre run) | 14.00 |
| Colour, paper prints (per metre run) | 24.50 |
| Photocopying (A4) | 0.25 |
| Photocopying (A3) | 0.50 |
| For copies of: | Charges (£): |
| Deep mine borehole log (per borehole) | 13.50 |
| Deep mine graphic log (per log) | 15.50 |
| Deep mine seam analysis (per report) | 31.00 |
| Digital Opencast (Surface Mining) borehole data (per borehole, without scientific data) | 1.60 |
| Digital Opencast (Surface Mining) borehole data (per borehole, with scientific data) | 2.00 |
| For copies of photographs: | Charges (£): |
| Size: 6" x 4" (per photo) | 2.50 |
| Size: 8" x 6" (per photo) | 5.00 |
| Size: 12" x 8" (per photo) | 10.00 |
| Size: A2 | 15.00 |
| For copies of: | Charges (£): |
| Certified copy of Property Deeds (per deed - plans charged extra if applicable) | 77.50 |
| Uncertified copy of Property Deeds (per deed - plans charged extra if applicable) | 62.00 |
| Copy of a Court Order (per order - plans charged extra if applicable) | 41.50 |
| Copy of Mining Lease (per lease - plans charged extra if applicable) | 41.50 |
| Copy of entry in Coal Holding Register (per entry) | 31.00 |
| Copy of entry on licence Register (per entry) | 31.00 |
| Search Fees (minimum charge - covers up to one hour's work; thereafter £55.00 per subsequent hour or part thereof) | 55.00 |
3. Licensing Charges
Please note: VAT is not levied on licence charges, but does apply to legal costs.
| Licence Type: | Min. Charge (£): | Max. Charge (£): | Charges (£): |
| 3.11(a) - Underground and Surface Mining Operating Licences including Conditional Licences with the exception of 3.11(b) below | 500.00 | 12,000.00 | 50.00 perhectare |
| 3.11(b) - Underground mining in a freeminer's gale in the Hundred of St Briavels ("Forest of Dean") |
n/a | n/a | 50.00 flat rate application fee |
| 3.12 - Exploration Licences (* thereafter the fee will be subject to site-specific consideration) |
500.00 | 10,000.00* | 5.00 per hectare |
| 3.13(a) Coal Methane Access Agreements (there are two options for the application fee, 3.13a or 3.13b, the decision being made by the applicant) (* thereafter the fee will be subject to site-specific consideration) A successful application with this method (Option 3.13a) results in an Access Agreement for a single site. |
500.00 | 10,000.00* | 5.00 per hectare |
| 3.13(b) Coal Methane Access Agreements (there are two options for the application fee, 3.13a or 3.13b, the decision being made by the applicant) A successful application with this method (Option 3.13b) results in an Access Agreement for an overall area and then subsequent supplemental agreements for each borehole. |
n/a | n/a | 5,000.00 initial application fee + 1,000.00 application fee per bore hole prior to it being drilled |
| Licence Type: | Charges (£): |
| 3.21(a) - Underground and Surface Mining Operating Licences including Conditional Licences with the exception of 3.21(b) below |
1000.00 upon grant of the licence (with the Authority reserving the right to charge legal fees) |
| 3.21(b) - Underground mining in a freeminer's gale in the Hundred of St Briavels ("Forest of Dean") | 50.00 upon the grant of the licence for underground mining in a freeminer’s gale in the Forest of Dean (with the Authority reserving the right to charge legal fees) |
| 3.22 - Exploration Licences | 500.00 upon grant of the licence (with the Authority reserving the right to charge legal fees) |
| 3.23 Coal Methane Access Agreements | 500.00 upon grant of the Access Agreement (with the Authority reserving the right to charge legal fees) In the case of the overall and supplemental agreement method then there is only a grant charge for the initial overall agreement. |
| Licence Type: | Annual Charges (£): |
| 3.31(a) - Underground and Surface Mining Operating Licences - for annual production of over 250,000 tonnes* | 5000.00 |
| 3.31(a) - Underground and Surface Mining Operating Licences - for annual production of 5,001 to 250,000 tonnes* | 1,000.00 |
| 3.31(a) - Underground and Surface Mining Operating Licences - for annual production of up to 5,000 tonnes* | 500.00 |
| 3.31(b) - For Each Licence in the Forest of Dean* | 50.00 |
| 3.32 - For Each Exploration Licence | 500.00 |
| 3.33 - For Each Coal Methane Access Agreement | 500.00 |
- * For each Underground and Surface Mining Operating Licence (apart from those in the Forest of Dean) a fee is charged based on an estimate of tonnage to be produced in the following 12 months. These fees also include one change to the Area of Responsibility per year with the Authority reserving the right to charge for any ad hoc work on an hourly basis.
4. Permissions Charges
Fees are based upon one of the following: the area of the application, the number of boreholes, or the number of mine entries to be investigated and/or treated.
| Permissions Charges Based Upon: | Min. Charge (£): | Max. Charge (£): | Charges (£) per unit: |
| 4.1 - Area of the application. Any number of shafts/adits are included within this area fee. |
85.00 | 2125.00 (for over and above 2.5 hectares) |
85.00 per 0.1 hectare (1000m2) or part thereof |
| 4.2 - Number of boreholes. For initial investigation purposes only. Should treatment then prove necessary, a further application would be needed to cover the whole grouting area (see charges for 4.1 above). However, the initial £42.50 per borehole fee would be deducted from this. |
85.00 | 425.00 | 42.50 per borehole |
| 4.3 - The number of mine entries to be investigated and/or treated. (when not included within 4.1 above) |
85.00 | 2125.00 | 85.00 per shaft or adit investigation/treatment |
- Retrospective applications will only be considered in exceptional circumstances and on the proviso that all investigation and treatment works have been completed and recorded to accepted published standards including HSE guidance. Retrospective applications will be charged at twice the normal applicable rate.
- Permissions fees are shown exclusive of VAT and can be made by cheque (payable to The Coal Authority), credit card, or BACS. Payments must be paid in full before the permit can be granted.
5. Property Searches and Reports
5.1 - Residential Property Searches and Reports
Available for single unit residential property, either existing or currently being built (e.g. a single plot on a residential development site). The report will answer questions 1 to 12 of the current Law Society Scheme Search Form (1 to 11 in Scotland) and is fully Home Information Pack (HIP’s) and Home Report (Scotland) compliant.
| Report Description | Ordering Method | Charge (£): | VAT (£): | Total (£): |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Mining Report. Includes information on coal mining and brine subsidence claims |
online | 27.00 | 4.05 | 31.05 |
| Residential Mining Report. Includes information on coal mining and brine subsidence claims |
postal or telephone | 33.91 | 5.09 | 39.00 |
| Residential Ground Stability Report (off coalfield areas). Includes information on coal mining, brine subsidence claims and natural subsidence hazards |
online | 29.00 | 4.35 | 33.35 |
| Residential Ground Stability Report (on coalfield areas). Includes information on coal mining, brine subsidence claims and natural subsidence hazards |
online | 44.00 | 6.60 | 50.60 |
| Residential Ground Stability Report (on/off coalfield areas)Includes information on coal mining, brine subsidence claims and natural subsidence hazards | postal or telephone | 50.43 | 7.57 | 58.00 |
5.2 - Non-Residential Property, Commercial or Development Site Searches and Reports
Available for single unit residential property, either existing or currently being built (e.g. a single plot on a residential development site). The report will answer questions 1 to 12 of the current Law Society Scheme Search Form (1 to 11 in Scotland) and is fully Home Information Pack (HIP’s) and Home Report (Scotland) compliant.
| Report Description | Ordering Method | Charge (£): | VAT (£): | Total (£): |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Residential Mining Report - up to 25 hectares. Includes information on coal mining and brine subsidence claims | online, postal or telephone | 64.00 | 9.60 | 73.60 |
| Non-Residential Mining Report - each additional 25 hectares. | online, postal or telephone | 64.00 | 9.60 | 73.60 |
| Non-Residential Ground Stability Report (on/off coalfield areas) - up to 25 hectares. Includes information on coal mining, brine subsidence claims and natural subsidence hazards | online | 89.00 | 13.35 | 102.35 |
| Non-Residential Ground Stability Report (on/off coalfield areas) - each additional 25 hectares. | online | 89.00 | 13.35 | 102.35 |
| Non-Residential Ground Stability Report (on/off coalfield areas) - up to 25 hectares. Includes information on coal mining, brine subsidence claims and natural subsidence hazards | postal or telephone | 102.61 | 15.39 | 118.00 |
| Non-Residential Ground Stability Report (on/offcoalfield areas) - each additional 25 hectares.Includes information on coal mining, brine subsidence claims and natural subsidence hazards | postal or telephone | 102.61 | 15.39 | 118.00 |
5.3 - Other Search Services and Reports
The Coal Authority also provides these additional search and reporting services.
| Report Description | Ordering Method | Charge (£): | VAT (£): | Total (£): |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search Not Required Certificate. Confirms that there are no past or proposed coal workings to affect the property and that the property is not in the Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation District. |
online only | 13.00 | 1.95 | 14.95 |
| Subsidence Claim Search. CON29M & ScotForm enquiry 9 equivalent - included as part of a Ground Stability and CON29M Mining Report. |
postal or telephone | 13.00 | 1.95 | 14.95 |
| Expedited Fee. Additional fee for same/next working day fax service. |
postal or telephone | 50.00 | 7.50 | 57.50 |
| Interpretive Report. Required subsequent to the disclosure of a mine entry in any residential report. |
postal or telephone | 75.00 | 11.25 | 86.25 |
| Claims History Service. Follow up service for further information on subsidence claims if referred to in a Ground Stability or CON29M Mining Report. |
postal or telephone | 110.00 | 16.50 | 126.50 |
| Copy of S.46 Notice. As issued to property owners who might be affected by subsidence as a result of active mining operations. |
postal or telephone | 25.00 | 3.75 | 28.75 |
| Mine Entry Plans and Data Sheets. Produced for customer defined areas; one data sheet per mine entry disclosing a summary of all known metadata |
postal or telephone | 14.00 per mine entry |
2.10 | 16.10 (minimum charge of £35.00+VAT) |
| Surface Hazard Report. Required subsequent to the disclosure of surface hazards in any residential or non-residential report. |
postal or telephone | 75.00 | 11.25 | 86.25 |
| Mine Gas Emission Report Required subsequent to the disclosure of mine gas emissions in any residential or non-residential report. |
postal or telephone | 75.00 | 11.25 | 86.25 |
6. Enquiries
Notes For Guidance:
Whilst the Coal Authority will provide a document search and inspection service it will not interpret or analyse information it holds (except for the Interpretive Mining Report).
The Coal Authority disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in historic records, and notes, annotations and amendments which appear on documents, including plans, logs and analytical reports.
The Coal Authority will not take responsibility for the provision of correct data when enquiries are based on inaccurate information.
Historic Records - Mining Records:
- t: 01623 637 235
- f: 01623 629 100
Historic Records - Records Management:
t: 01623 637 217
f: 01623 423 468
Historic Records - Land and Property:
t: 01623 637 239
f: 01623 621 955
Licensing and Permissions:
t: 01623 637 339
f: 01623 620 363
Property Searches and Reports:
t: 0845 762 6848
f: 01623 637 338
All written enquiries should be directed to the relevant department/contact at:
The Coal Authority
200 Lichfield Lane
Berry Hill
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 4RGDX716178 Mansfield 5.