Mining subsidence repairs in Tyne and Wear

Area: Tyne and Wear
Pricing region: North East
Ground: Clay in parts
Towns listed: 9

How do local ground conditions affect mining subsidence repairs in Tyne and Wear?

Tyne and Wear lies on the Durham and Northumberland coalfield, with old shallow workings recorded beneath parts of Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, mostly under a cover of glacial clay.

Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Tyne and Wear, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Housing stock in Tyne and Wear: Tyneside flats and terraces, Victorian villas, inter-war council estates and post-war semis.

What should you budget for mining subsidence repairs in Tyne and Wear?

For Tyne and Wear we use North East rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.

Guide prices inc VAT on North East rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
Item	Guide price	Per
Crack stitching and making good	£75 – £165	per metre of crack
Re-levelling or ground stabilisation by resin injection	£735 – £1,400	per metre of wall
Underpinning where the engineer specifies it	£920 – £3,200	per metre of wall
Repair schedule for a claim (pricing an engineer's scope)est.	Free to request	—

Repair options we may recommend

Crack stitching and making good

Where the ground has stopped moving and the damage is cracking, the walls are stitched with stainless helical bars, repointed and replastered. This covers a large share of mining damage, especially legacy movement that settled years ago and left cracks behind.

Best for: Cracking after movement that has now stopped

Underpinning to sound ground

Where the engineer specifies it, foundations are taken down by mass concrete, beam-and-base or mini-piles to ground that will not move further. On mining sites the design often follows grouting of old workings so the new foundation sits above a stable mass.

Best for: Ongoing movement or damage beyond what crack repairs can hold

Pricing an engineer’s repair scope

When a claim is under way, the engineer or claim handler usually writes the scope of repairs. We price that schedule item by item, at no charge to request, and carry out the work if you choose us. Anything outside the scope is shown separately.

Best for: Homeowners with a mining claim or engineer’s report in hand

What to expect when we carry out mining subsidence repairs

Report and photograph
Photograph every crack with a scale and note the date it appeared. Report suspected coal-mining damage to the Mining Remediation Authority, or the operator of a working mine, and notify your home insurer. Time limits can apply, so report promptly.
Engineer’s assessment
An independent chartered structural engineer inspects the damage and, if needed, recommends drilling or ground investigation to locate voids. We can arrange the engineer. Their report sets out the cause, whether movement has stopped and what repair is needed.
Written price to the scope
We price the repair from the engineer’s or claim schedule and confirm a fixed price in writing once the work is specified. Where a claim body or insurer is handling the repair, their own process for appointing contractors applies.

Is it time for mining subsidence repairs? Common signs

Cracks running through the foundations and up both faces of a wall
A dip, hollow or hole opening in the garden or drive
The whole house leaning slightly, with doors swinging open
Cracks appearing suddenly across several walls at once

Mining subsidence: settlement over old shallow mine workings. Indicative drawing, not to scale.

Do you need approval for mining subsidence repairs in England?

In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

Towns in Tyne and Wear we cover for mining subsidence repairs

Your mining subsidence repairs questions

Is the ground in Tyne and Wear prone to subsidence?

Tyne and Wear lies on the Durham and Northumberland coalfield, with old shallow workings recorded beneath parts of Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, mostly under a cover of glacial clay. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Tyne and Wear, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.

How much will mining subsidence repairs cost in Tyne and Wear?

On North East rates, mining subsidence repairs starts from about £75 per metre of crack, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.

What should I do if a hole opens in my garden?

Keep everyone away from it and do not try to fill it yourself. Report it straight away to the Mining Remediation Authority if coal mining may be involved, or to your council and insurer otherwise. Old shafts can be deeper and wider than the visible hole suggests.

What about salt, lead or ironstone mining?

Damage from non-coal mining follows different routes. Cheshire’s brine areas have their own statutory compensation arrangements, while metal, ironstone and limestone workings often have no equivalent scheme, leaving your home insurer as the main route. A solicitor or your insurer can confirm which applies.

Is my house affected by mining because it is on a coalfield?

Not necessarily. Many homes on coalfields have no mining-related damage at all, and cracks there can still come from clay, trees or drains. A coal mining report shows recorded workings nearby, and an engineer’s inspection is needed to link damage to mining.