Fear for Shropshire homes near old mines unfounded

Housing and planning experts today moved to allay concerns that areas of its Shropshire's housing market could grind to a halt amid fears that lenders won't offer mortgages on homes built near old mine shafts.

Tina Clarkson, who has been trying to sell her late father's home in Telford, claimed she was told that lenders have become nervous over offering mortgages on such properties and some insurance companies are reluctant to insure them.

She fears that if this is true, the property market in Oakengates and Telford could come to a standstill.

In a letter to the Shropshire Star she said: "I recently had a sale fall through because the lender would not lend on a property near an old mine shaft.

"In conversation with my estate agent they tell me that not a single lender will lend on a property anywhere near a mineshaft any more, and even insurance companies will not offer buildings insurance anymore.

"This blows my mind. Oakengates and many areas in Telford will be severely affected."

But Michael Barker, head of planning at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "The council is not aware of the specific approach of individual lenders or insurers - properties are being bought and sold every day in and around Telford. Nor are we aware of any specific concerns from new house builders.

"Telford is not 'pretty much' built on old mining sites and landfill. There is certainly a substantial amount of reclaimed land created by the Telford Development Corporation, but new development was only built on land that had been properly treated and restored."

Mr Barker said the Telford area was part of the former East Shropshire Coalfield and much of the remaining mineral was removed by surface mining and the land restored for re-use.

"A property owner/seller would need to be able to demonstrate that any consequences of mining or other processes in the vicinity have been properly dealt with in line with coal authority information and advice and any local authority or independent consultant's advice.

"Where uncertainty may occur is if there is no evidence of the treatment of a known problem or the possibility of an unknown problem."

And estate agent Nick Tart said lenders are continuing to offer mortgages on properties in areas of former mine shafts.

Mr Tart said: "If the mine shafts are capped and grouted - most of them are - lenders will lend, (although) perhaps not all of them."

By Ben Bentley