Mine water heat access agreement application process timeline for schemes in England
Updated 13 December 2024
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The following timeline has been prepared by combining Mining Remediation Authority and Environment Agency requirements for proposed mine water heat schemes in England.
A summary of the key milestones and estimated timescales is provided for each stage.
Some of the activities will be undertaken in parallel with overlapping timescales, this has been taken into account for the total working days calculated for each stage.
The timescales specified are estimates, based on average timescales taken by schemes who have already been through the process.
Timescales could be shorter or longer, depending on the complexity of the scheme or the efficiency of site works.
The term ‘applicant’ is used by the Mining Remediation Authority until a mine water heat access agreement is entered into. Once this agreement is in place the term ‘Operator’ is used.
1. Stage 1 - Pre-construction of boreholes
| Activity | Working days |
|---|---|
| Pre-application enquiries | 30 |
| Applicant to submit a completed application form for a permit for the purpose of a mine water heat scheme to the Mining Remediation Authority | 1 |
| Applicant to submit a completed WR32 groundwater investigation consent form to the Environment Agency | 1 |
| Environment Agency to assess WR32 and advise the applicant of the extent of the water feature survey | 10 |
| Mining Remediation Authority processes the application for a permit for the purpose of a mine water heat scheme | 30 |
| Applicant to undertake an initial water feature survey | 65 |
| Applicant to submit the initial water feature survey and updated hydrogeological conceptual model to the Environment Agency | 1 |
| Environment Agency to undertake technical assessment and draft groundwater investigation consent | 30 |
| Environment Agency to issue groundwater investigation consent to applicant, granting permission to drill boreholes and undertake well clearance | 1 |
| Mining Remediation Authority issues permits for the purpose of a mine water heat scheme | 1 |
| Total working days for stage 1 | 138 |
2. Stage 2 - Construction of boreholes and potential initial yield test
| Activity | Working days |
|---|---|
| Applicant drills exploration and final boreholes | 132 |
| Total working days for stage 2 | 132 |
3. Stage 3 - Testing the boreholes and system
| Activity | Working days |
|---|---|
| Applicant to request to vary groundwater investigation consent, allowing for pumping tests to be undertaken | 1 |
| Applicant to apply to the Environment Agency for an environmental permit or register an exemption for the discharge or re-injection activity | 90 |
| Applicant to submit a completed application form and supporting documents for a mine water heat access agreement to the Mining Remediation Authority | 1 |
| Environment Agency to assess the request to vary the groundwater investigation consent | 30 |
| Mining Remediation Authority completes initial review of application | 5 |
| Environment Agency to issue groundwater investigation consent variation to the applicant, granting permissions for pumping tests and system testing | 1 |
| Environment Agency to issue an environmental permit for discharge or notify applicant of exemption registration | 1 |
| Applicant to send a copy of the groundwater investigation consent to the Mining Remediation Authority | 1 |
| Mining Remediation Authority completes a stage 1 technical assurance process of the application and terms of the mine water heat access agreement agreed with the Operator | 30 |
| Mining Remediation Authority and applicant enter into mine water heat access agreement which incorporates Mining Remediation Authority permits | 5 |
| Data licence issued | 1 |
| Applicant to notify the Environment Agency of the pumping test programme at least 5 working days before the start of the pumping tests | 6 |
| Operator to notify the Mining Remediation Authority of the pumping test programme at least 10 working days before the start of the pumping tests | 10 |
| Applicant to undertake pumping tests, monitoring and data analysis | 132 |
| Total working days for stage 3 | 192 |
4. Stage 4 - Pre-operational phase
| Activity | Working days |
|---|---|
| Applicant to submit application for an abstraction licence to the Environment Agency | 1 |
| Applicant to submit an application for a new environmental permit, or an application to vary an existing permit, to the Environment Agency, if required | 1 |
| Operator to submit a completed application form and supporting documents to vary the mine water heat access agreement to the operational phase to the Mining Remediation Authority | 1 |
| Mining Remediation Authority to review the application and notify the Operator if it is complete or advise what further information is required | 10 |
| Environment Agency to process, advertise and assess abstraction licence and environmental permit applications | 122 |
| Environment Agency to issue applicant with licence and permit where acceptable | 1 |
| Mining Remediation Authority completes a stage 2 technical assurance process of the application and terms of the mine water heat access agreement agreed with the Operator | 123 |
| Operator to send Mining Remediation Authority copies of the abstraction licence and environmental permit issued by the Environment Agency | 7 |
| Mining Remediation Authority and Operator enter into an operational phase mine water heat access agreement | 1 |
| Total working days for stage 4 | 132 |
| Total overall activity | Total overall working days |
|---|---|
| Complete stages 1 to 4 | 529 |
5. Stage 5 - Operational phase
The operational phase includes:
- long term mine water heat operation
- decommissioning or abandonment of scheme