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Contaminated Land Introduction

Summary

Britain’s industrial history has resulted in a legacy of land contamination e.g. from factories, mining activities and waste disposal sites.

An old factory A Silk Mill Storage tanks

Britain’s industrial history has resulted in a legacy of land contamination e.g. from factories, mining activities and waste disposal sites. However, not all contamination poses problems and some may only be of concern if the land is used for a particular purpose e.g. housing.

Contamination may take a variety of forms, including chemical, biological and radioactive. It may impact upon human health or the environment, ranging from toxic effects on humans, the inhibition of plant growth, to explosive properties that may damage buildings.

Often it is not obvious that land is contaminated until soil testing and/or investigations are made into its previous use and that of neighbouring land. If contamination is found, a more detailed investigation and risk assessment would most likely be required to determine whether there are any unacceptable risks to human health or the wider environment.

Contaminated land is often cleaned up when land is to be re-developed and planning applications are made to the Local Authority. Please select the link below for further information regarding development on potentially contaminated land. For sites not dealt with through the planning process, Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 is usually used. This legislation places a duty on Local Authorities to inspect all potentially contaminated land within their regulatory areas, and to secure clean-up if the contamination is deemed to present an unacceptable risk. Please select the link below for further information regarding Babergh District Council's Inspection Strategy:

External link ...

Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Business Link logo
Business Link

Businesslink.gov.uk is the official government website for businesses of all sizes.
You can access information, guidance and support for your business needs and your online dealings with government - helping you save time and money

Business Link's Dealing with land contamination webpage


About links to external sites.

Contact us ...

Team:
Environmental Protection
Telephone:
01473 825890
Minicom/textphone:
01473 825878
Fax:
01473 825738
Address:
Babergh District Council
Corks Lane
Hadleigh
IPSWICH
IP7 6SJ

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Last updated on: 19 August 2011 | Date of next review: 19 August 2012

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