15 June 2018
Last updated at 11:49
News
Removal of Cheshire Brine Questions from CON29M
Following discussions between the Coal Authority, Cheshire Brine compensation board and the Law Society, it has now been confirmed that from 1st June 2018, The Cheshire Brine Compensation Board will take the provision of brine searches back in house.
The CON29M Mining Report has been updated to remove Question 12, an enquiry that relates to the provision of Cheshire Brine Information.
The report will now change from the CON29M Coal and Cheshire Brine Mining Report to solely a CON29M Coal Mining Report.
All reference to Cheshire Brine has been removed.
How to obtain Cheshire Brine Information from the 1st June
A Cheshire Brine search is a mandatory Law Society requirement for all property transactions within the single compensation district, this covers much of Cheshire where there has been found to be the potential for subsidence resulting from brine extraction activity.
As an alternative, the Cheshire Brine Compensation Board are working with Groundsure to offer a new Cheshire Salt Search.
Why is the report needed?
- Brine deposits and pumping over many years has caused properties to be at risk of subsidence in Cheshire, so those buying or developing property need to know if this affects them
- The most significant subsidence can be far away from the actual sites of the mines, meaning it is not possible to determine where the risk will be directly from the location of mines
- Some properties have been subject to a “commutation payment”, where payments were made in lieu of carrying out repairs, meaning future owners of the property are not able to claim for damage
- The report is required when purchasing property in Cheshire, due to the effects of the above.
Key features of the report
- Makes clear whether the property would be eligible for compensation under the 1952 and 1964 Acts if it is affected by brine pumping related subsidence in the future
- Clarifies whether a property is in the Compensation District, and hence in an area considered at increased risk of subsidence but potentially eligible for compensation
- Explains whether a property is situated in a Consultation Area, meaning it could be difficult to gain planning permission for development, or structural precautions may need to be taken
- Informs whether a Notice of Damage has been filed and accepted for the property, meaning it is already deemed to have been damaged by ground instability caused by brine pumping
- Explains whether a property is situated in a Consultation Area, meaning structural precautions or remedial measures may need to be taken following consultation with the Brine Board.
- Informs whether a Notice of Damage has been filed and accepted for the property, meaning it is already deemed to have been damaged by ground instability caused by brine pumping
- Checks if the property has been subject at any time to a “commutation payment”, meaning it would be eligible for no further compensation in the event of damage. However, if the commuted building has since been demolished and replaced with further building, that building may be potentially eligible for compensation.
- Clarifies whether a property is in an area underlain by a historical salt mine, meaning it is in an area susceptible to subsidence.
- Informs whether the property is within an area designated to be within the GS7 Planning Policy Boundary. The GS7 planning policy ensures that no development takes place within the area covered by the policy until such time that the site is rendered fit for development and mitigated against the serious subsidence risk potentially associated with abandoned rock salt mines in Northwich.
- Checks whether the property is within 20m of a known historical well or shaft.
- Informs whether the property is within 200m of a planning consent of a brine extraction by controlled pumping. Subsidence from controlled pumping is of very low magnitudes.
- Clarifies whether a property is in an area underlain by an active salt mine. The active mine workings are indicated to be stable following a large amount of research, testing and monitoring being carried out at the mine
- Informs whether recorded subsidence features are within 50m of the property, meaning it is in an area susceptible to subsidence.
The Groundsure Cheshire Salt Search is available to order now via PSG Connect. For more information, please contact your local PSG office.
More News