Conveyancing in Doncaster

Coal mining has a long and important role in the energy industry of Great Britain. For many years coal has been valued for its energy content, and since the 1880's, has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. The common effects from coal mining in and around Doncaster can be seen through subsidence. Subsidence occurs when the land has been disturbed causing caving in or sinking in of an area of land. Therefore a coal mining search is essential from your Conveyancer or Property Lawyer if you are purchasing in an area which is affected by this. For more information on Coal Mining, please see the Coal Authority website.

Subsidence is movement in a building’s foundations. Subsidence usually occurs:

• In areas with a high concentration of clay soils and prolonged periods of dry spells cause the water table to drop and movement occurs.
• Where trees and bushes have grown under the foundations and unsettled the building.
• Where a water leakage from a broken drainpipe or mains pipe washes soil away from the foundations.
• In areas with soil that has a high sand or gravel content, or sometimes chalk.
• In areas where there has been previous mining activity.

The good news is that subsidence can often be easily fixed provided the appropriate action is taken immediately.

Your Property Lawyer or Conveyancer can advise you on the appropriate checks to carry out on subsidence risk in Doncaster

Energy exploration is the process of trying to find accumulations of oil and natural gas trapped under the Earth’s surface. In the UK, indigenous gas production from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) began in 1967. Oil production began in 1975, however after four decades of production, petroleum reserves in the UKCS are declining. Environmental concerns currently exist over Natural Gas Fracking (fracking). Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. A major concern is that potentially carcinogenic chemicals used in the process may escape and contaminate groundwater around the fracking site. Another concern is over the huge amounts of water that must be transported to the fracking site, at significant environmental cost. There are also worries that the fracking process can cause small earth tremors. Two small earthquakes of 1.5 and 2.2 magnitude hit the Blackpool area in 2011 following fracking. Although no fracking is currently taking place, reserves of shale gas have been identified across swathes of the UK, particularly in the north of England. Please note your property solicitor or conveyancer will be able to advise you on the appropriate searches to carry out on energy exploration in Doncaster.