UK Government Invests £143 Million to Secure Welsh Coal Tip Sites

• chancellor to visit a coal tip site in Wales to observe work protecting families and businesses from disused coal tips.
• The UK Government and Welsh Government collaborate to secure coal tip sites, with over 130 sites benefiting from funding this year.
• Funding of over £22 billion per year has been agreed for the Welsh Government between 2026-27 and 2028-29 as part of this year’s spending Review, including an additional £5 billion for resource and capital.

Disused coal tips represent a lasting legacy of Wales’ coal industry and pose meaningful risks to Welsh communities from landslides or flooding. In November, a partial collapse of a disused coal tip in Cwmtillery, blaenau Gwent, prompted the evacuation of approximately 40 homes and families.

The £118 million provided by the Chancellor in the Spending Review, combined with £25 million from last year’s Autumn Budget, totals £143 million. This funding protects existing homes and enables the Welsh Government to secure land for future housing development. With Welsh Government funding, a total of £220 million has been invested in making coal tips in Wales safe.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

I know the scars that coal tip disasters have left on Welsh communities. This £143 million investment will protect families and communities from the risks posed by disused coal tips, whilst opening up sites to build new homes for hard-working Welsh families.

These sites need to be safe, and this funding demonstrates how we are delivering our Plan for Change, putting the safety of working people first and supporting economic growth.

Welsh Secretary,Jo Stevens said:

Ensuring coal tips across Wales remain safe is of the utmost importance. We want to ensure that communities near coal tips can be confident that their homes and businesses are properly protected.

This £118 million is in addition to £25 million already provided by the UK Government and exemplifies how collaboration between the two governments delivers for the people of Wales.

Previously unsuitable for housing due to the presence of coal tips, these areas can now be considered for development as securing the tips minimizes the risk of collapse, possibly enabling the construction of new homes.