The Coal Authority is now more actively participating in the Development Plan making processes across England, Scotland and Wales. The Coal Authority has been upgraded to ‘Specific Consultee’ status in England since June 2008.
The Coal Authority’s main objectives in relation to the overall planning and development process are to:
- Ensure that future development is undertaken safely and reduces the future liability on the tax payer for subsidence and other mining related hazards claims arising from the legacy of coal mining; and
- Safeguard coal resources from sterilisation through other forms of development
The Coal Authority provides specific comments on all stages of the Development Plan making process, including appearance at Public Examinations where necessary. This is supplemented by the provision of coal mining information to assist Local Planning Authorities.
The range of planning policy and associated documents in which the Coal Authority has an interest includes:
- English Development Plan Documents, Supplementary Planning Documents and supporting evidence studies
- Welsh Local Development Plans and supporting evidence studies
- Scottish Strategic Development Plans, Local Plans and Local Development Plans and supporting evidence studies
- National and Devolved Government planning documents
The Coal Authority also comments on strategies and policy documents in relation to planning that are provided by the National Government as well as Devolved Governments.
A leaflet outlining The Coal Authority's main planning policy objectives can be downloaded from the 'Useful Information' section below
Good Practice Advice for Local Planning Authorities on the process of mineral safeguarding
Useful Information