Guidance

Transport hazard summary: subsidence and soil degradation

Helps UK transport industry understand and plan for subsidence and soil degradation-related hazards.

• From: Department for Transport and Met Office
• Published: 16 December 2025

Documents

Transport hazard summary: subsidence and soil degradation

PDF, 967 KB, 9 pages

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Details

This summary identifies some of the main risks caused by subsidence and soil degradation, such as ground movement beneath transport infrastructure. It also provides advice to help mitigate and plan for these risks.

Direct impacts from subsidence and soil degradation include:

• cracking and distortion of roads, railways and runways, which can lead to delays and closures
• safety risks due to uneven surfaces on roads and pavements

This forms part of the Transport hazards summaries series, which helps organisations understand hazards that can impact UK transport.

Published 16 December 2025