Permit fees

As part of the Coal Authority’s annual review, our permit application fees have been increased from 1 February 2024.

Following customer feedback, the new fees include provision for applying to make changes to a permit already issued, allowing for multiple activities such as mine entry and treatment under a single permit and a reward for those whose operations have been independently audited and are complying with our permit conditions.

The changes to our permit prices are reflected in our new pricing structure. This price change will enable us to continue to deliver a high quality service. We are committed to restricting our costs as far as possible and are not permitted to make any profit from our permit fees.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to our team, please call us on 01623 637450 or email us at permissions@coal.gov.uk.

2024 permit fees

Permitting charges based upon:	Min. Charge:	Max. Charge:	Charges per unit:
3.1 – Area of application. Any number of shafts and adits are included within the fee.	£135	£3,375 (for over and above 2.5 hectares)	£135 per 0.1 hectare (1000m²)
3.2 – Number of boreholes – for initial investigation purposes only	£135	£3,375 (for over and above 2.5 hectares)	£67.50 per borehole
3.3 – The number of mine entries to be investigated when not included in the area charge	£135	£3,375	£135 per shaft or adit investigation
3.4 – The number of mine entries to be treated when not included in the area charge	£135	£3,375	£135 per shaft or adit investigation
3.5 – Application including mine entry and treatment	Aggregate fees for each mine entry and treatment	£3,375	Aggregate fees for each shaft or adit to be investigated and/or treated
3.6 – Administration fee for minor changes	£60	£60	N/A
3.7 – Significant variation to a permit	Charged for at a rate of 60% of standard permit applications specified in 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 above or costs for additional new activity, whichever is lower	Charged for at a rate of 60% of standard permit applications specified in 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 above or costs for additional new activity, whichever is lower	Charged for at a rate of 60% of standard permit applications specified in 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 above or costs for additional new activity, whichever is lower
3.8 – Fee for application for permit time extension	£135	£135	N/A
3.9 – Application for Water Resources Consents relating to capital flood risk projects	Charged for at same rate as standard permit applications specified in 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 above	Charged for at same rate as standard permit applications specified in 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 above	Charged for at same rate as standard permit applications specified in 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 above
3.10 – Submission of closure information required as part of enforcement notices will be charged at 1^1/2 times the rate for a standard application for similar activities.
3.11 – 5% discount on application fees for Permit Applicants who: have been compliant with their previous permits, with no concerns raised by the Coal Authority; are not on the Coal Authority’s red list; and are using a contractor whose operations have been audited by an independent mining engineer within 15 months prior to permit application. Applicants claiming discount must provide proof of independent mining engineer audit.
3.12 – Charge for time and materials costs based on current Coal Authority charge-out rates for additional time spent on an application that we are minded to refuse because of inadequate information, after repeated requests for additional information.

These fee rates reflect the costs of the services that the Permissions Team provides, in line with the principles in Managing Public Money May 2023 (publishing.service.gov.uk) document. The Permissions Team is committed to restricting its costs as far as possible and is not permitted to make any profit from its fees.