A new partnership will help to improve the delivery of major schemes across England.
The Coal Authority and National Highways have signed an agreement which details how the 2 organisations will work together more closely.
The Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, will help the organisations engage more closely on the work that we do to address the impacts of former coal mining.
It will underpin our sharing of information and expertise to streamline decision making and project planning.
Head of mining information, Nick Ethlestone, who led the project for the Coal Authority, said:
Together we will use our resources and powers in all areas where we have a mutual interest, and collaborate to develop policy and advice about the protection and assessment of historical coal mining areas.
We will explore and agree on opportunities for joint research and improve the effectiveness of communication at all levels to facilitate a great working relationship between us. We will also follow a shared forward-planning approach to ensure a smoother process for projects.
Key areas will include the Coal Authority providing advice on best practice in our role as a statutory planning consultee on coal mining whilst National Highways will share their delivery plans and undertake early engagement on new projects.
Nick added: "This is an exciting collaboration which will see our 2 organisations working in a way that benefits us both and, ultimately, road users and the wider community that we all serve.
"It's a great example of how we work with others to create added value and I'd like to thank everyone involved in making it happen."
Regional investment programme director at National Highways, Sandie Forte-Gill, said: "By having this agreement and key contacts in each organisation, we're already better engaging and sharing data.
"We can locate and understand the potential risks from historical coal mining early on. This in turn will help prevent delays and additional costs, saving time and money for National Highways and our suppliers, and supporting a commercially stable supply chain."
