Davis Langdon goes underground

Davis Langdon has been appointed on a £100m project at Combe Down stone mines in Bath.

The firm will provide QSing and project management on a scheme to stabilise the mines for Bath and North East Somerset Council.

The project aims to preserve the historic mines in terms of their heritage, wildlife and environmental elements.

The mines in Combe Down are Oolitic Limestone mines, which were worked mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries.

An underground survey of the Firs and Byfield mine areas was carried out in 1994, commissioned by the then Bath City Council. It was found that approximately 80% of the mines have less than 6m cover and as little as 2m in some places. Irregular mining and robbing stone from supporting pillars has left the mines unstable.

Bath council said: “The aim of the project is to remove the current threat to life and property of those living, working in and travelling through the Combe Down area.”