What is contaminated land? - What is contaminated land?

Industrial decline in the United Kingdom has left many areas of vacant, derelict and under used land which may contain substances in the ground that have the potential to cause harm to human health and the wider environment.

In the United Kingdom there are, primarily, two ways of dealing with land affected by the presence of contamination. Either, through the planning process or through the enforcement of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990

The Environmental Health Department is responsible for implementing Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and has a dedicated Contaminated Land Officer to undertake this role. Part IIA requires all local authorities to inspect their area for the purpose of identifying contaminated land. In 2001, in accordance with Part IIA, Bassetlaw produced a Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy. Please contact us to view a copy of this strategy.

Part IIA only deals with land which in its current use has the potential to cause 'significant harm' to human health, specified plants and animals, specified buildings and property and the water environment. The legislation also requires that we compile and maintain a Register of Contaminated Land. This register only includes details of land where formal action has been taken - it does not include details of every site in the district.

 

 


Last Updated on Monday, March 20, 2023