BGS & Mining Remediation Authority: area-level, Great Britain

Subsidence risk in SE1: postcode checker

Ground stability by postcode for Southwark, London: BGS clay shrink-swell, coalfield status, recorded landslides and the radon band around SE1.

Area drivers at a glance

  • Clay shrink-swellProbable → Probable
  • Coal & miningOff-coalfield
  • Recorded landslides0 nearby

Area-level screening, never a single property.

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BGS rates the area around SE1 as clay-rich ground where shrink-swell (clay shrinkage) subsidence is a probable driver of ground movement as climate warms.

BGS rates the area around SE1 as clay-rich ground where shrink-swell (clay shrinkage) subsidence is a probable driver of ground movement as climate warms. This is AREA-LEVEL British Geological Survey screening around the SE1 representative point (generalised for national overview, on ~50 m to hex-scale grids), so it describes the neighbourhood, never a single property. Subsidence risk turns on the exact plot, foundations, trees and drainage, so a specific-address check and, if flagged, a survey are essential before you offer.

The three ground-movement drivers around SE1

Clay shrink-swell (climate)

Probable → Probable

BGS GeoClimate UKCP18 rates the clay shrink-swell subsidence class around SE1 as Probable for the 2030 Average scenario and holding at Probable to 2070. Clay soils shrink in dry summers and swell when wet, which is the UK's commonest subsidence cause.

Coal & mining

Off-coalfield

Both coal-area queries returned no match at the postcode point. This is outside the queried DHRA/DLRA coverage; it does not establish the absence of every mining hazard at the property.

SE1 is off the recorded coalfield. For the areas that are on it, see coal mining search by area.

Recorded landslides

0 nearby

The BGS National Landslide Database records no landslide events within roughly 1.4 km of the SE1 representative point.

Radon band (area context)

Class 1/6

The UKHSA/BGS Indicative Atlas puts the 1 km tile (TQ3279) around SE1 in radon class 1 of 6 (less than 1% of homes estimated at or above the radon Action Level). Radon is a separate ground gas hazard, not a cause of subsidence, but it is part of the same below-ground picture. See the SE1 radon breakdown.

Ground hazards across the SE1 area (BGS GeoSure)

The British Geological Survey rates six natural ground hazards on a 5 km hexagonal grid across Great Britain. Each line below gives the rating for the cell the SE1 representative point falls in and how far away the nearest higher-rated cell begins. That is the half that matters, because a Low cell can sit a few hundred metres from a Significant one. See where this cell sits on the Great Britain subsidence map.

  • Collapsible deposits

    Low

    Collapsible deposits: Low across this 65 km² area (BGS GeoSure 5 km cell); the nearest Moderate-rated cell begins about 17.7 km W.

  • Compressible ground

    Low

    Compressible ground: Low across this 65 km² area (BGS GeoSure 5 km cell); the nearest Significant-rated cell begins about 3.3 km E.

    BGS advisory: Areas of localised significant rating.

  • Landslide (slope instability)

    Low

    Landslide (slope instability): Low across this 65 km² area (BGS GeoSure 5 km cell); the nearest Moderate-rated cell begins about 5.3 km SE.

    BGS advisory: Areas of localised significant rating.

  • Running sand

    Low

    Running sand: Low across this 65 km² area (BGS GeoSure 5 km cell); the nearest Moderate-rated cell begins about 3.3 km E.

  • Shrink–swell (clay subsidence)

    Significant

    Shrink–swell (clay subsidence): Significant across this 65 km² area (BGS GeoSure 5 km cell); no cell in Great Britain is rated higher for this hazard.

    BGS advisory: Areas of localised significant rating.

  • Soluble rocks (dissolution / sinkholes)

    Low

    Soluble rocks (dissolution / sinkholes): Low across this 65 km² area (BGS GeoSure 5 km cell); the nearest Significant-rated cell begins about 11.7 km SE.

Mining hazard other than coal

Non-coal mining: no known record of mining activity in this 2.6 km² area (BGS 1 km cell); the nearest Low-rated cell begins about 0.9 km SE.

This is the BGS mining hazard dataset that EXCLUDES coal. A rating of NA means no record of NON-COAL mining (tin, lead, salt, limestone, chalk and similar); it says nothing about coal. Coal risk is screened separately against the Mining Remediation Authority development risk areas.

BGS attaches a standing advisory note to every cell in one or more of the layers above. Because it applies to the whole of Great Britain it says nothing about SE1, so it is not shown here as a finding.

BGS notice: "Not suitable for local or site specific analysis, data is generalised for national overview uses only"

These ratings describe an area, not a building. The GeoSure cell above covers about 65 km², and the mining cell about 2.6 km². Which side of a cell edge a house falls on is arbitrary, so read the distances above as carefully as the ratings. Only a site investigation speaks to a plot.

Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. BGS GeoSure 5 km hex grid + BGS Mining hazard (not including coal) 1 km hex grid, product version Version 8.

Indicative, area-level ground-stability screening, not a site investigation. Ratings are generalised for national overview uses and do not replace a Coal Mining Risk Assessment or site-specific geotechnical survey. These bands describe the ground around the SE1 area on BGS national-overview grids. They are never a property-specific rating, and carry no distance-to-mine-shaft claim. Whether a specific home is at risk depends on its plot, foundations, trees and drainage.

Check a specific SE1 address

This page is the area picture. The £24.99 Complete report runs the clay, coal and landslide ground screen against one exact address, alongside flood, radon and the other checks. That is the full ground-and-risk picture before you offer.

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Sources

Contains Mining Remediation Authority data © Mining Remediation Authority, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026 (GeoClimate UKCP18 Open). Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

What's in the report

A full PDF report bringing together available property risks, price history and neighbourhood context. A Complete report runs to 33 numbered sections in seven parts; Lite is the safety & environment part with the closing checklist and sources.

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  • The verdict
  • Safety & environment
  • Value & market
  • The home & energy
  • Area & lifestyle
  • Written for the address

  • Price History

    Every recorded sale on the street, with area price context.+5 checks

    HM Land Registry street and postcode transactions, plus local UK House Price Index context where available: every recorded sale on the street, newest first, with tenure, property type and new-build flags, typical price by property type, and how the local authority, region and nation compare

    • Every recorded sale on the street and postcode
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    • Local authority, region and nation compared
    • Local UK House Price Index context

    Prints in: Value & market

  • Energy & Carbon

    The whole energy certificate, running costs and improvements.+7 checks

    Matched EPC band, potential improvements, estimated energy costs and carbon emissions where a certificate is available. You get the whole certificate: every element the assessor rated with its star ratings, running costs now and after the costed improvements, rooms, glazing, validity, plus modelled solar potential

    • Matched EPC band
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    • Modelled solar potential

    Prints in: The home & energy

  • Flood & Climate Risk

    Flood maps, recorded flooding, defences and future scenarios.+8 checks

    Flood maps and recorded extents, with available future surface-water flood scenarios and coastal erosion data; coverage varies by nation. Included: every flood-warning area within 2 km and 5 km named, recorded flood events, river-flow climate allowances, Flood Re eligibility, and every flood defence within about 1.5 km with its condition

    • Flood maps and recorded extents
    • Future surface-water flood scenarios
    • Coastal erosion data
    • Flood-warning areas within 2 km and 5 km
    • Recorded flood events
    • River-flow climate allowances
    • Flood Re eligibility
    • Flood defences within about 1.5 km

    Prints in: Safety & environment

  • Ground & Environmental

    Ground hazards, radon, coal mining, noise and air quality.+7 checks

    BGS area hazard bands, radon potential, coal-mining screening, landslides, noise and modelled air quality: clay shrink-swell to the 2070s, the seven ground-hazard ratings with the distance to the nearest higher-rated cell, every recorded landslide nearby, the radon band for the 1 km square, and nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5 and PM10 against the legal objectives

    • Clay shrink-swell to the 2070s
    • Seven ground-hazard ratings
    • Recorded landslides nearby
    • Radon band for the 1 km square
    • Coal-mining screening
    • Noise
    • Nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5 and PM10

    Prints in: Safety & environment

  • Crime & Safety

    Police-recorded crime by category, with the trend.+6 checks

    Published police.uk crime categories and monthly history in England and Wales, with missing months explained: the last six months and the 24-month total within a mile, every category's share and per-month rate, and the change between the last six months and the six before

    • Last six months within a mile
    • The 24-month total
    • Every category's share
    • Per-month rate by category
    • Change against the six months before
    • Missing months explained

    Prints in: Area & lifestyle

  • Schools & Healthcare

    Schools nearby, plus GPs, pharmacies and health context.+5 checks

    Schools with available inspection information, OpenStreetMap amenities such as GPs and pharmacies, and census health context: every school within 4 km with phase, grade and distance, and the nearest GP, pharmacy and health services by name

    • Every school within 4 km
    • Phase, grade and distance
    • Nearest GP by name
    • Nearest pharmacy and health services
    • Census health context

    Prints in: Area & lifestyle

  • Local Transport

    Stations and stops nearby, with distances.+3 checks

    Nearby rail stations and public transport stops with distances, where the source has records: stations with mode and lines, every stop within 800 m by type, and the nearest bus stop

    • Stations with mode and lines
    • Every stop within 800 m by type
    • The nearest bus stop

    Prints in: Area & lifestyle

  • Demographics

    Who lives here, and how the area ranks on deprivation.+6 checks

    Neighbourhood deprivation and available census data, with different sources for each nation: the decile and rank of the small area with domains where published, residents and households, every census category with count and share including household tenure, and the statistical type of area with its pen portraits

    • Deprivation decile and rank
    • Domains where published
    • Residents and households
    • Every census category with count and share
    • Household tenure
    • Type of area with its pen portraits

    Prints in: Area & lifestyle

  • Planning & Heritage

    Designations, listed buildings and what shapes change nearby.+10 checks

    Published planning designations, conservation areas, listed buildings and major projects; local publication varies. Included: every listed building and conservation area within 700 m with grade and distance, green belt, National Landscape, national park, scheduled monuments, tree preservation orders, Article 4 directions, the local plan's status and every brownfield-register entry nearby

    • Listed buildings within 700 m
    • Conservation areas within 700 m
    • Green belt
    • National Landscape and national park
    • Scheduled monuments
    • Tree preservation orders
    • Article 4 directions
    • The local plan's status
    • Brownfield-register entries nearby
    • Major projects

    Prints in: The home & energy

  • Lifestyle & Amenities

    Walkability, everyday amenities and food hygiene ratings.+4 checks

    Nearby mapped amenities, walkability context and food hygiene ratings where records are available: a walkability score out of 100, every everyday category counted with its nearest distance, and every rated food business within about a mile with type, rating and inspection date

    • Walkability score out of 100
    • Every everyday category counted
    • Nearest distance for each category
    • Rated food businesses within about a mile

    Prints in: Area & lifestyle

  • Rental & Market Context

    Indicative rental yield and local price trends.+4 checks

    Indicative gross rental yield from area rents and price data, plus local house-price trends where available: the yield, the typical monthly rent and the value it was measured against, labelled as an area estimate

    • Indicative gross rental yield
    • Typical monthly rent
    • The value it was measured against
    • Local house-price trends

    Prints in: Value & market

  • Contaminated Land & Permits

    Former landfill, permits, discharges and incidents nearby.+6 checks

    Every former landfill within 1 km measured to its boundary with its years in use, every permitted landfill within 2 km, substantiated pollution incidents, and all permits and discharges within 1 km de-duplicated by site, with the statutory register named as not read and how to get it

    • Former landfill within 1 km, to its boundary
    • Years each landfill was in use
    • Permitted landfill within 2 km
    • Substantiated pollution incidents
    • Permits and discharges within 1 km
    • The statutory register and how to get it

    Prints in: Safety & environment

  • Council Tax & Tenure

    What every band costs, the neighbours' bands and tenure.+7 checks

    The Band D charge for the local authority this year, what every band costs per year and per month, the band mix of the neighbours, the tenure at the last recorded sale and across the street, published tribunal decisions at the postcode, and the lease-pack checklist

    • Band D charge this year
    • Every band per year and per month
    • The neighbours' band mix
    • Tenure at the last recorded sale
    • Tenure across the street
    • Tribunal decisions at the postcode
    • The lease-pack checklist

    Prints in: Value & market

  • Findings for This Address

    Written for this address from registers that software cannot read.+4 checks

    A section written for this address from the registers that publish to people but not to software (each finding names the register consulted, where and when), plus dated corporate ownership and building records with their match basis

    • Findings from registers with no software feed
    • The register, place and date for each finding
    • Dated corporate ownership records
    • Building records with their match basis

    Prints in: Written for the address

  • Verdict, Surveyor Questions & Checklist

    The IQ Score, every flag explained, and your next steps.+5 checks

    The IQ Score with every factor's sub-score and the finding behind it, every red and amber flag explained, a numbered brief of questions for your surveyor built from what the address flagged, your before-you-offer checklist, and an appendix of every register asked and whether it answered

    • IQ Score with every factor's sub-score
    • Every red and amber flag explained
    • A numbered brief for your surveyor
    • Your before-you-offer checklist
    • Every register asked, and whether it answered

    Prints in: The verdict

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Frequently asked questions

Is SE1 at risk of subsidence?
BGS rates the area around SE1 as clay-rich ground where shrink-swell (clay shrinkage) subsidence is a probable driver of ground movement as climate warms. These are area-level indicators from the British Geological Survey and Mining Remediation Authority. They describe the ground around SE1, not any single home. Whether a specific property is affected depends on its plot, foundations, nearby trees and drainage, so check the exact address and, if flagged, commission a survey.
What causes subsidence in this area?
The three area-level drivers we screen are: clay shrink-swell (clay soils shrinking in dry summers and swelling when wet, which is the commonest UK cause and worsening with climate change), past coal or other mining (ground disturbance from historic workings), and recorded landslides (slope instability). Trees, leaking drains and made ground are property-level factors a survey assesses.
Does a subsidence flag stop me getting a mortgage or insurance?
Not automatically. Area-level ground risk can raise buildings-insurance premiums or prompt a lender to ask for a survey, especially if a property has a history of movement. A tribunal- or survey-confirmed subsidence claim is more material than an area screening. Always get a buildings-insurance quote on the specific address before you commit.
How do I check subsidence risk for a specific SE1 address?
Ground stability is assessed at the property, not the outcode. The HouseCheckup Complete report runs the clay, coal and landslide screen against one exact address and pairs it with the flood, radon and other ground checks: the full picture before you offer.

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