Coal Mining Search Areas in the UK: Is Your Property Affected?

If you are selling a property in England or Wales, there is a reasonable chance it falls within a coal mining reporting area. The Coal Authority — the government body responsible for managing the legacy of coal mining in Great Britain — defines these areas based on where coal was historically extracted. If your property is inside the boundary, the buyer's solicitor will require a CON29M coal mining search before the sale can proceed.

This guide explains exactly which parts of the country are affected, how to check your own property, and what the search results mean for your sale. For a broader overview of when and why a mining search is needed, see our companion guide on whether you need a mining search.

What is a coal mining reporting area?

A coal mining reporting area is a boundary defined by the Coal Authority that marks the zones where historical, current, or planned coal mining activity could affect properties. The boundaries are based on the location of the UK's historic coalfields — the geological formations where coal seams were commercially mined, in many cases for hundreds of years.

When a property falls within this boundary, the buyer's solicitor is expected to order a CON29M search as part of the standard property search pack. Most mortgage lenders will refuse to lend without one. The search draws on the Coal Authority's database of over 170,000 recorded mine entries and extensive geological records to establish whether mining activity has taken place beneath or near the property.

The reporting area is deliberately broader than the coalfields themselves. This is because underground mining can have effects at the surface well beyond the point where coal was actually extracted.Subsidence, ground movement, and mine gas emissions can all affect properties that sit within the zone of influence of past mining activity, even if no coal was dug directly beneath them.

How many properties are affected?

According to the Coal Authority, approximately 42% of properties in England fall within a coal mining reporting area. In Wales, the proportion is similarly significant, with the South Wales Valleys and parts of North East Wales heavily affected.

This figure surprises many sellers. Coal mining is often associated with a handful of northern towns and Welsh valleys, but the reporting areas are far more extensive. They cover parts of the Midlands, the South West, and even a small area of Kent — the only coalfield in south-east England. If you have not checked your postcode, it is well worth doing so before you list your property.

Affected regions: a county-by-county breakdown

The following table summarises the main coalfield regions in England and Wales, along with the key counties and local authority areas where properties are most likely to fall within the Coal Authority's reporting boundary. This is not an exhaustive list — the Coal Authority's interactive map is the definitive source — but it covers the regions where the vast majority of affected properties are found.

It is important to note that reporting area boundaries do not follow neat administrative lines. A property on one side of a street may be within the reporting area while its neighbour across the road is not. The only reliable way to confirm whether your specific property is affected is to check the Coal Authority's interactive map using your exact postcode or address.

Regions that often surprise sellers

While most people expect coalfield areas in Yorkshire, South Wales, and the North East, several regions catch sellers off guard:

• Kent. The Kent coalfield operated from around 1912 to 1989, with collieries at Snowdown, Tilmanstone, Betteshanger, and Chislet. Properties around Dover, Deal, and Aylesham are within the reporting area — making this the only part of south-east England affected.
• Somerset. The North Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton was active for centuries, with the last mine closing in 1973. Properties in this popular commuter belt south of Bath are within the reporting boundary.
• The Black Country. Parts of Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell, and Wolverhampton sit on the South Staffordshire coalfield. The area's industrial character means many residents do not associate their neighbourhood with coal mining specifically, but the reporting area extends across much of the conurbation.
• Leicestershire. The town of Coalville — the name is the clue — sits at the heart of the Leicestershire coalfield. Properties across North West Leicestershire, including Ibstock and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, fall within the reporting boundary.
• The Forest of Dean. Coal was mined in the Forest of Dean for centuries under the ancient "free mining" rights tradition. Properties around Cinderford and Coleford are within the Coal Authority's reporting area.

How to check if your property is affected

The Coal Authority provides a free interactive map on its website where you can check any address or postcode in England and Wales. Here is how to use it:

1. Go to coalauthority.gov.uk and navigate to the interactive map viewer (or search for "Coal Authority interactive map" on any search engine).
2. Enter your postcode or address in the search bar. The map will zoom to your location.
3. Check the shading. If your property falls within the shaded area, it is inside the coal mining reporting boundary and a CON29M search will be needed.
4. Note the detail. The map also shows the location of recorded mine entries (shafts and adits), surface mining areas, and other features. These are useful for understanding the mining history of your specific area.

If you are working with a conveyancer, they will check this as a matter of course when your sale begins. However, checking yourself before you list gives you time to prepare. If your property is in an affected area, you can order the CON29M search upfront as part of a seller search pack, so the result is ready and waiting when the buyer's solicitor needs it. For more on how this fits into the wider search timeline, see our guide on how long property searches take.

What the CON29M search reveals

If your property is within a reporting area, the buyer's solicitor will order a CON29M search from the Coal Authority. This is an electronic search that typically costs £40-£55 and returns within 1 to 3 working days. The report covers a range of mining-related issues:

• Past underground mining — Whether coal was extracted from seams beneath or near the property, and at what depth. Shallow mining (less than 30 metres) is considered higher risk for ground movement.
• Opencast mining — Whether the site or nearby land was subject to surface-level coal extraction.
• Mine entries — The location of recorded mine shafts and adits (horizontal tunnels) within influencing distance of the property.
• Subsidence claims — Whether any claims for coal mining subsidence damage have been made in respect of the property under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991.
• Mine gas emissions — Whether the Coal Authority has records of gas emissions from abandoned mines in the area.
• Planned future mining — Whether there are any current mining licences or permissions affecting the area.
• Coal Authority notices — Whether the property is subject to any remediation or safety notices.

The vast majority of properties in mining reporting areas will show some level of past mining activity. This is entirely normal and does not mean there is a problem with the property. Deep mining with no history of subsidence is the most common finding and typically causes no concern for buyers or lenders.

What the results mean for your sale

Finding evidence of past coal mining in the CON29M report is extremely common in affected areas. It does not prevent you from selling. Thousands of properties change hands every year in former coalfield regions without incident. The key question is whether the mining activity poses an ongoing risk.

Here is what typically happens depending on the results:

• Deep mining, no subsidence claims, no nearby mine entries — This is the most common outcome. The buyer's solicitor will note the result and the sale proceeds normally with no further action required.
• Shallow mining (less than 30 metres) — The buyer's solicitor may raise enquiries and recommend a more detailed ground stability assessment. This does not usually stop the sale but may add a few days to the timeline.
• Mine entry within influencing distance — If a mine shaft or adit is recorded near the property, the buyer's solicitor will want to know whether it has been capped and made safe. The Coal Authority holds records of shaft treatment works.
• Past subsidence claim — If a subsidence claim has been made and resolved, this is actually recorded as a positive because it shows the damage was formally addressed under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991.
• Outstanding Coal Authority notice — This is the most likely result to cause delays. If the Coal Authority has issued a notice requiring remedial work that has not been completed, the buyer's solicitor will need to investigate further before proceeding.

If the search does reveal something unexpected, see our guide on what to do if searches reveal problems for advice on how to respond and keep the sale moving.

Non-coal mining: other areas to be aware of

The CON29M search only covers coal mining. Several parts of England and Wales have a history of other types of mineral extraction that is not covered by the Coal Authority. In these areas, the buyer's solicitor may request a separate non-coal mining search from a commercial provider such as Terrafirma, Groundsure, or Landmark. Common non-coal mining areas include:

• Tin and copper mining — Cornwall and parts of Devon
• Lead and zinc mining — The Yorkshire Dales, parts of Derbyshire (the Peak District), and areas of North Wales
• Brine and salt extraction — Cheshire and parts of Worcestershire
• Limestone and gypsum mining — Parts of Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, and the Peak District
• Slate quarrying — North Wales, particularly Gwynedd
• Iron ore mining — Parts of Cleveland, Cumbria, and Lincolnshire

Non-coal mining searches typically cost £30-£50 and return within a few working days. Your conveyancer will advise whether one is appropriate based on your property's location. For a broader view of how mining searches fit into the full set of property checks, see our guide to property searches explained.

What sellers should do if their property is in a mining area

If you discover that your property is within a coal mining reporting area, there are several practical steps you can take to prepare for a smooth sale:

1. Order the CON29M search upfront. You can order the mining search before you even list your property. The cost is £40-£55 and the result will be ready when the buyer's solicitor requests it, removing a step from the post-offer process.
2. Complete your TA6 form thoroughly. Section 7 of the TA6 property information form asks about environmental matters, including whether you are aware of any ground instability, subsidence, or mining activity. Disclosing what you know upfront prevents surprises later.
3. Gather any relevant documents. If you have received correspondence from the Coal Authority, if subsidence repairs have been carried out, or if you have a previous mining search report, keep these to hand. Your solicitor can provide them to the buyer's side quickly.
4. Consider a seller search pack. Ordering a full set of property searches upfront — including the mining search alongside your local authority search, drainage, environmental, and chancel searches — can cut weeks off the conveyancing timeline. This is especially valuable in mining areas where the CON29M adds an extra step to the buyer's due diligence.
5. Be transparent. If you know about past subsidence, ground movement, or mine workings near the property, disclose it. The mining search will reveal most of this information anyway, and attempting to conceal known issues can expose you to a misrepresentation claim after completion.

How mining searches fit into the conveyancing timeline

One of the advantages of a CON29M mining search is that it is fast. Because it is processed electronically by the Coal Authority, results typically come back within 1 to 3 working days. Compare this with a local authority search, which can take 2 to 6 weeks depending on the council.

The mining search is usually ordered at the same time as the rest of the standard search pack, so it runs in parallel with the slower searches. In most cases, the CON29M result is available long before the local authority search comes back. This means the mining search itself is rarely the cause of delay.

However, if the results raise issues that require further investigation — such as a detailed ground stability report or a Coal Authority consultancy — this can add days or weeks. Sellers who order the search upfront have the advantage of knowing the results early. If something is flagged, they can begin addressing it before a buyer is even on the scene, rather than dealing with it mid-sale when time pressure is greatest. For a full breakdown of what each stage costs, see our guide to conveyancing costs.

Sources and further reading

• Coal Authority — Interactive map of coal mining reporting areas and CON29M search service: coalauthority.gov.uk
• Coal Authority — Property search guidance for home buyers and sellers: gov.uk/government/organisations/the-coal-authority
• Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 — Legislation governing responsibility for coal mining subsidence damage: legislation.gov.uk
• Law Society — Conveyancing Protocol and guidance on property searches: lawsociety.org.uk
• British Geological Survey — Geological hazard data and ground stability information: bgs.ac.uk
• HM Land Registry — Property ownership and title information: gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry
• GOV.UK — Guidance on coal mining risks and property transactions: gov.uk/guidance/coal-mining-risk-assessments

Related guides

• Coal Mining Search in Durham and Northumberland

Frequently asked questions