Reclamation of contaminated land affected by shallow mining in the Black Country,England

In the South Staffordshire coalfield residual problems left by more than 200 years’ intensive mineral extraction and other industrial activity have ensued not only from relatively shallow coal extraction but also from limestone, ironstone and clay mining and from marl pits and sand or gravel working. This legacy presents special difficulties for the redeveloper, particularly as the original surface now lies beneath fill contaminated by industrial residues, obscuring any abandoned mineshafts, which are often uncharted. Much of the coal mining was in the 10 m Thick Coal seam and predates 1872, when the deposition of plans became a statutory requirement. Apart from chronic instability from coal and limestone workings, other features that give rise to specific problems stem from mine drainage channels, abandoned subsided canal beds, infilled marl pits and sand workings.

Experiences from the recently completed programme of reclamation schemes carried out by the Black Country Development Corporation are reported. Several schemes are described in outline. These demonstrate how, by appropriate preparation, planning, management and selection of reclamation techniques, the problems left as a legacy of mining can be overcome successfully, resulting in some of the most notable ‘brownfield’ developments in the United Kingdom.