The contract includes the drilling and grouting of shallow mine workings to the building footprint plus a perimeter extension zone to negate future movement, and the capping of a single mine shaft.

Covering an area of 5615m^2, Aarsleff will employ three rotary percussive drill rigs for probe drilling and artificial consolidation of the site.

Work started on the site this week.

Aarsleff Ground Engineering’s assistant geotechnical manager Jonathan Greener said: “Abandoned coal mines can present a likely hazard when land is redeveloped.

“Investigation and consolidation of abandoned coal mine workings is no easy task and projects like Shiremoor, enable us to demonstrate our expertise in this specialist field.

“As a member of the British Drilling Association, we are in the strong position of being able to carry out large mine workings stabilisation schemes from our in-house resources.”