Contaminated land
We are the primary regulator for severely polluted land. We need to assess the land to establish whether further action is needed.
We provide the following services:
- carry out inspections of sites
- determine the extent of contamination
- designate whether the site is deemed a 'special site' (the Environment Agency are responsible for enforcing this)
- act as the Enforcing Authority for contaminated land not designated as a special site.
Land is considered contaminated if it affects:
- human beings
- certain ecosystems
- certain property
- controlled water
Treatment of contaminated land
When land has been confirmed as contaminated the enforcing authority must:
- confirm who should be responsible for treatment or remediation;
- decide after consultation what treatment work should be done and check that this is carried out
- decide who is to pay for the treatment
- maintain a public register of all regulatory action in relation to contaminated land
You can download guidance on the development of contaminated land and our contaminated land strategy/
Guidance Of Development Of Potential Contaminated Land - pdf - 46 Kb
Public register of contaminated land
Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on Local Authorities to hold a Public Register of sites that have been formally determined as contaminated land.
The Register does not have any entries to date as no sites have been determined in the District and no notices have been served in accordance with the Act.
Environmental searches
When buying or selling a property, solicitors may ask whether the land is contaminated. Environmental searches may raise questions about the former use of the site and potentially contaminated land.
We may hold more specific information about a property. For more information and details of current fees call 01285 623000.