We stop digging, secure the area, and notify the relevant parties — your structural engineer, building control, and potentially the Coal Authority. It's not common on residential plots that have had a clear mining search, but it does happen on previously undeveloped land. The solution typically involves capping the shaft and designing foundations that span it, or relocating the build footprint. We've dealt with this before and know the process.

On former industrial and mining sites, yes. Arsenic, heavy metals and mine waste can be present in topsoil and subsoil. If your site is on former mining land, a contamination assessment may be required as a planning condition. Remediation can range from removing and replacing a layer of topsoil to more extensive excavation. We handle the physical remediation works — dig out the contaminated material, import clean fill, and dispose of the waste correctly.

Absolutely. The Pool area between Camborne and Redruth has significant brownfield redevelopment activity, from the Heartlands site outward. We handle site clearance, demolition of existing structures, ground preparation and all foundation and drainage work for new builds on previously developed land.

Carn Brea is granite — hard, stable and well-drained, but expensive to excavate through. Foundation trenches on the upper slopes may need breaker work to get to depth. The upside is that granite provides excellent bearing capacity once you're at formation level. Properties lower down the slopes, toward Redruth and Pool, transition to softer clay-based soils that are easier to dig but need more attention to drainage.