The Coal Authority has begun implementing its new risk-based approach to assessing development control applications in coalfield local authorities in Great Britain and will demand risk assessments for non-domestic applications in areas where safety risks are greatest.
These "referral areas" are those where risks from coal mining are greatest and include details like areas of shallow mining, recorded mine entries and areas of former surface mining.
Applicants will have to submit a coal mining risk assessment with non-domestic applications in these areas.
The new system is being introduced on a phased basis and details are available on its website.
