Why has The Coal Authority chosen to take this new risk based approach to planning applications?
The Coal Authority has a strategic objective to manage the legacy of coal mining activities arising from the UK coal mining industry. There are potentially some serious public safety hazards and risks associated with former mining activities and a greater awareness of the issues is needed. The planning system considers new development and redevelopment of land and therefore it is part of the general duties of the Local Planning Authorities to consider public safety which includes land instability as one of the many material considerations in decision making on planning matters. It is often the new development or redevelopment of land which provides a trigger for many of these problems. This is a new and more pro-active and positive approach by The Coal Authority to managing these historic risks and liabilities.In due course it will help reduce the overall burden on taxpayers for developments which did not adequately consider or address stability issues within proposals which subsequent
