Get a permit to deal with coal or coal mines

You must get permission to enter, disturb or change coal mines or coal managed or owned by the Coal Authority that’s on your property.

This includes:

• coal seams under your property

• coal workings, such as existing mine tunnels

• mine entrances

You need to get a permit if you want to:

• cap the mine

• fill the mine

• drill boreholes through a coal seam

• build over or near to the entrance to the mine

How to apply

Fill in the online application form. You’ll have to register first if you do not have an account with the Coal Authority.

You’ll need to upload:

• a plan of the site that clearly shows the boundary, location, number and depth of any boreholes or excavations

• any proposed grout mixes for treatment works

• full drawings and calculations if treating mine entries

• any previous works such as coal mining risk assessments, desk studies or borehole logs

• the treatment grid, including the proposed development footprint (for treatment permits only)

Start now

You can also apply using a paper form. Please contact us for details on how to complete the paper form.

Where applications include designs that require engineering appraisal the information supplied should fulfil the requirements of Coal Authority Technical Guidance Note TGN02/202.

However you apply, you’ll need to:

• agree to the permit’s terms and conditions

• pay the appropriate fee

How much does it cost

Charges are calculated upon one of the following:

• the number of boreholes

• the area of the application

• the number of mine entries to be investigated and/or treated

Please note that once processing of the application has commenced no refund of the application charge will be made. Application charges are non-transferable.

We have introduced a 5% discount on application fees for permit applicants who:

• have been compliant with their previous permits, with no concerns raised by the Mining Remediation Authority or Health and Safety Executive

• have no outstanding closure reports from previously issued permits

• have not conducted any activity on our Permitting non-compliance policy

• are using a contractor whose operations have been audited by an independent mining engineer within 15 months prior to the permit application

Applicants claiming a discount must provide proof of the independent mining engineer audit.

Please do not schedule works until the permit certificate has been issued.

Permission to enter or disturb Mining Remediation Authority mining interests

Express applications

Express (5 working days) applications are charged at 4 times the normal applicable rate. These are subject to availability and restricted to site investigation applications that do not relate to mine entries, also known as shafts or adits.

Further exemptions may apply.

Expedited applications

Expedited (10 working days) applications are charged at 2 and a half times the normal applicable rate and will be subject to availability.

Standard applications

Standard (20 plus working days) applications are charged the normal applicable rate.

Submission of information required as part of intervention measures and notices

Retrospective submission of closure reports and information required as part of intervention and enforcement action against unpermitted work or breach of permit conditions will be charged at one and half times the rate for a standard application for similar activities.

Where we issue a notice for unauthorised work we require the relevant party to submit the necessary closure report covering works undertaken. An acknowledgement letter will be issued, however we will consider the advice of the Health and Safety Executive regarding the granting of a permit.

Time and material charges

Where additional time is spent on an application after more than 2 requests for the same information we will charge for time and materials costs based on current Mining Remediation Authority charge-out rates.

These will be invoiced on a case by case basis. Time and material charges will also apply to any permit project work.

Water Resources and flood defence consents

Consents for capital flood defence infrastructure will be charged for at the same rate as standard permit applications to recover costs. 

Making changes to a current permit

We recognise that in some cases, new information arises after a permit has been issued, which will require changes to the permit or approved methods and techniques. An application to change or vary the permit can be submitted to formalise these changes and prevent a breach of permit conditions.

An application for a significant variation to a current permit will be charged for the cost of additional new activity. If the application was made on an area basis, the variation will be charged at 60% of the standard application fee or the costs of the additional new activity, whichever is lower. In either case, where a maximum fee was paid, the variation fee will be for an administrative charge only.

A significant variation is any variation that requires a technical assessment to be done. 

A minor administrative change or variation can be applied for changes which do not require technical assessment, such as an application made to change administrative details of permit, which include name changes where a company changes its name but retains the same management structure, systems and insurance.

An application to extend time validity of a current permit can be made to extend the time period of a permit only. This does not require any additional technical assessment to be done.

Multiple activities on same permit application

Where one permit application is made to cover multiple activities on a single site, the application fee payable is the aggregate sum of each of the proposed activities.

If multiple phases of work are required in relation to a mine entry, such as investigation followed by capping or grouting followed by capping, these can be covered on a single application with the permit issued on a conditional basis, depending on the information available.

This allows the initial phase to commence with the applicant returning to complete the engineering appraisal process at a later date. The application fee will be the sum of the mine entry investigation and the mine treatment activities.

Permitting charges are shown inclusive of VAT. Payment can be made by debit or credit card or BACS.

Payment must be made in full before the permit can be processed and granted.

Permitting charges based upon	Minimum charge	Maximum charge	Charges per unit
Area of application - any number of shafts and adits are included within the fee	£162	£4,056 (for over and above 2.5 hectares)	£162 per 0.1 hectare (1,000m2)
Number of boreholes for initial investigation purposes only	£162	£4,056	£81 per borehole
The number of mine entries to be investigated or treated, when not included in the area charge	£162	£4,056	£162 per shaft or adit investigation or treatment
The number of mine entries to be treated, when not included in the area charge	£162	£4,056	£162 per shaft or adit investigation or treatment
Application including mine entry and treatment	Aggregate fees for each shaft or adit to be investigated or treated	£4,080	Aggregate fees for each shaft or adit to be investigated or treated
Application for water resources consents relating to capital flood risk projects	£162	£4,056	Charged for at same rate as standard permit applications

Other fees	Cost
Administration fee for minor changes and adding investigation for unrecorded mining features	£72
Application fee for permit extension	£156

These fee rates reflect the costs of the services that the Permissions Team provides, in line with the principles in Managing Public Money May 2023 document.

The Mining Remediation Authority permit permissions team is committed to restricting its costs as far as possible and is not permitted to make any profit from its fees.

If you need help with your application

Contact the Mining Remediation Authority Permitting and Licensing team.