Across the UK homes, infrastructure and land are at risk from complex ground hazards that can remain hidden for years. Every day, decisions worth millions of pounds are being made without considering the consequences of these hazards, putting the investments of individuals, families and businesses at risk.
At Terrafirma, we are passionate about improving the understanding of the ground, and the complex ways it interacts with the built environment. Our geologists, soil scientists and mining engineers clearly communicate ground risks through our pioneering reports, expert advice and innovative ground risk models.
Terrafirma exist to ensure people and organisations have access to accurate and understandable information on ground hazards, so they can make informed decisions without needing to be ground risk specialists themselves.
CEO and Founder, Tom Backhouse formed Terrafirma with the ambition to educate the conveyancing sector about mining-related ground stability risk.
Tom Backhouse formed Terrafirma with the ambition to educate the conveyancing sector about mining-related ground stability risk.
Tom reaches out to local universities and Terrafirma works with numerous student interns from the University of Bristol’s Earth Sciences department.
The TerraSearch suite of searches was launched, bringing Assure, Assess and Action to the market.
Tom reaches out to local universities and Terrafirma works with numerous student interns from the University of Bristol’s Earth Sciences department.
The TerraSearch suite of searches was launched, bringing Assure, Assess and Action to the market.
Terrafirma launch regulated coal reports utilising licensed coal data and expert opinion.
Tom receives an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards for his contributions to risk assessment in the conveyancing process. The team grows and moves to into offices at Aztec West, Bristol.
Terrafirma COO, Danny Powell-Thomas, presents his master’s research on desk-based mining risk assessment at the inaugural Geologist’s Association Student Symposium.
Tom stars in 'Sinkholes' on Channel 5, a documentary exploring how the misunderstood hazard impacts the UK.
Terrafirma launch regulated coal reports utilising licensed coal data and expert opinion.
Terrafirma COO, Danny Powell-Thomas, presents his master’s research on desk-based mining risk assessment at the inaugural Geologist’s Association Student Symposium.
CEO and Founder, Tom Backhouse received an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards for his contributions to risk assessment in the conveyancing process. The team grows and moves to into offices at Aztec West, Bristol.
Tom stars in 'Sinkholes' on Channel 5, a documentary exploring how the misunderstood hazard impacts the UK.
Terrafirma become Executive Members of The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO), to help set and improve industry standards.
Terrafirma launch the Ground Report, a flagship report aimed at providing expert opinion on the risk from mining and natural ground hazards and recorded ground movement, including a CON29M report as standard.
Terrafirma becomes the first commercial organisation to be licensed by the Law Society to produce an official CON29M report.
Terrafirma receives highly commended for the Innovation Award at the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards for producing the first commercial CON29M, reducing liabilities for lenders and conveyancers alike.
Terrafirma become Executive Members of The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO), to help set and improve industry standards.
Terrafirma becomes the first commercial organisation to be licensed by the Law Society to produce an official CON29M report.
Terrafirma launch the Ground Report, a flagship report aimed at providing expert opinion on the risk from mining and natural ground hazards and recorded ground movement, including a CON29M report as standard.
Terrafirma recieves highly commended for the Innovation Award at the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards for producing the first commercial CON29M, reducing liabilities for lenders and conveyancers alike.
Terrafirma host first Advisory Panel meeting - a team of experienced professionals across legal due diligence, geology and mining to explore new ideas and current challenges.
Tom features on BBC’s The One Show, explaining sinkholes in the UK, their impacts and links to a changing climate.
Terrafirma expands its Executive, Development and Marketing team and establishes the GeoData division. Terrafirma welcome Chris Milne as Technical Director to the team to bolster the company’s geological and engineering expertise.
Terrafirma appoint renowned commercial and legal data expert Lucy Oxer as Chief Data Officer.
Terrafirma host first Advisory Panel meeting - a team of experienced professionals across legal due diligence, geology and mining to explore new ideas and current challenges.
Terrafirma expands its Executive, Development and Marketing team and establishes the GeoData division. Terrafirma welcome Chris Milne as Technical Director to the team to bolster the company’s geological and engineering expertise.
Terrafirma CEO and Founder, Tom Backhouse features on BBC’s The One Show, explaining sinkholes in the UK, their impacts and links to a changing climate.
Terrafirma appoint renowned commercial and legal data expert Lucy Oxer as Chief Data Officer.
Terrafirma appoint Dr Tim Farewell as Science and Communications Director who joins from Cranfield University with a wealth of experience in environmental data science.
The new Coastal Hazards module is available within the Ground Report, providing property-specific information on coastal flooding, landslides and erosion prior to purchase.
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO), appoints Tom Backhouse, CEO of Terrafirma as a new Board Member and Director.
Terrafirma win the Innovation Award at the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards for the property-specific Coastal Hazards risk assessment within the Ground Report.
The National Ground Risk Model: Climate™ is launched as a tool to help banks, building societies and insurers identify and manage the future physical risks from climate change.
Terrafirma appoint Dr Tim Farewell as Science and Communications Director who joins us from Cranfield University with a wealth of experience in environmental data science.
Rachael Hodge, senior commercial manager at Terrafirma, looks at how post valuation queries can be kept down by utilising data on ground and environmental risks...
Read More...Terrafirma is launching a major update to its standard-setting Ground Report, making it the first domestic search product to provide detailed, property-specific...
Read More...Terrafirma were proud sponsors of the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards in July 2019, see a few highlights including Tom, our CEO, presenting the...
Read More...Customer demand led to the Law Society in July to license Terrafirma as the first commercial organisation to provide a new, official CON29M report...
Read More...The Terrafirma CON29M Report provides answers to all 11 questions (14 for commercial properties) using Coal Authority licensed data and meets all the requirements...
Read More...Tom and Terrafirma criss-cross the UK exploring human interest stories of where mining and natural sinkholes have caused disruption and sometimes deaths...
Read More...Drawing on Terrafirma’s specialist knowledge in the innovation and provision of mining-instability risk assessment, the TerraSearch® product suite analyses...
Read More...Sinkholes in former coalmining areas can be predicted and more must be done to stop them, an expert has said. Mine risk specialist Tom Backhouse spoke out after one appeared...
Read More...Tom Backhouse, executive director of mining experts firm TerraFirma, said the discovery of nearby chalk mines could have a 'severe impact' on...
Read More...28th January 2021
We are pleased to announce Terrafirma has today joined the Conveyancing Association. They join a select number of Affiliate Members offering professional opinion and expert ground...
14th January 2021
Following the launch of the National Ground Risk Model: Climate (NGRM: Climate™) in November last year, Terrafirma have partnered with Hometrack, the leading provider of insight...
18th December 2020
As we help others to understand and prepare for the increasingly dramatic impacts that climate change will have on the built environment, we recognise the contribution we as a comp...
24th November 2020
Terrafirma, the leading experts in ground risk assessment, today launches the National Ground Risk Model (NGRM): Climate™. This provides lenders with an expertly modelled, ground...
2440 The Quadrant, Aztec West Business Park, Bristol, BS32 4AQ United Kingdom
0330 900 7500
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