The move comes as the Coal Authority launches its ambitious new data and information plan for 2024 to 2027.
Paul Frammingham, Chief Finance and Information Officer at the Coal Authority, said:
We hold a unique and extensive collection of data and information that details Great Britain's mining legacy and its impacts on the environment. We believe that wider and more innovative use of this data will transform how we and others succeed in making a better future for people and the environment in mining areas.
Our new plan will explain how we will do this through investing in our data and information over the next 3 years and beyond.
The Coal Authority's authoritative data includes underground mine workings that sit beneath approximately 25% of properties in Great Britain and it is used to identify hazards, respond to incidents and emergencies, and to design systems that help prevent mine water from polluting drinking water, rivers and the sea.
Running throughout the plan is a commitment from the Coal Authority to develop and update its data and information to meet the needs of its business and customers.
An important announcement within the plan is a commitment to supply data free of charge for projects and activities funded by the taxpayer.
Speaking about this decision to open up data for public sector organisations, Gerry Wildman, Principal Data and Information Manager at the Coal Authority, said:
We recognise the important role of the public sector in funding and delivering projects that support infrastructure and services, as well as projects that protect our environment and contribute to the government's net zero targets.
We know our data can play an important role in supporting these activities and hope to encourage its use by removing commercial data licensing fees for public sector organisations from April 2024.
This will mean that there will be no charge to access and use the Coal Authority's mining data for activities that the public sector are delivering in support of their core role and purpose.
As a public body that holds nationally important geospatial data, the Coal Authority work with the Geospatial Commission to look at how, by working together with our government partners, we can help to find solutions to society's biggest challenges including climate change, energy security, economic growth and national security.
Read the Coal Authority's data and information plan 2024 to 2027
