Land can become contaminated with chemicals and other substances, often associated with past industrial use and waste disposal. Contaminated land can cause harm to our -
- health
- property
- environment, including -
- our water supplies
- soil quality
- wildlife habitats
Land contamination and planning
When land is redeveloped, potential risks from contamination must be assessed as part of the planning application. In some cases, contamination will need to be cleaned-up, or ‘remediated’, before building work starts. Guidance on dealing with contaminated land during the planning process is available on our planning page.
Supplementary Planning Document 3 (SPD3) on Environmental Quality, forms part of local planning policy and includes further advice on land affected by contamination:
Detailed technical guidance on land contamination is also available on the GOV.UK website.
Contaminated land inspection strategy
The council has a duty to identify contaminated land (as defined under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990) and has powers to deal with unacceptable risks to people or the environment. We must set out our approach in a written strategy which follows government guidance.
Access the following documents -
- The Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy
- Summary of Part 2A Public Register
Further guidance on Part 2A is available on the GOV.UK website.
How to report or request information on contaminated land
You can contact us about contaminated land if you -
- are concerned that you might own or rent a site that might be contaminated
- wish to develop a site that has a history of previous development
- require an environmental search letter about contaminated land when buying or selling property
Complete the below form -
Report environmental nuisance (opens in a new window)
What happens next
We aim to contact you within 4 working days. During busy periods, such as the peak of the holiday period, it may not be possible to meet these promises.