Contaminated Land

Throughout the Borough there are a significant number of sites that may have been contaminated by previous use. This is often associated with industrial processes or activities that have now ceased, but where waste products or remaining residues could cause land contamination.

Gedling Borough Council has a duty to inspect its area for sites where land contamination may have occurred, determine sites as contaminated land where a pollutant linkage exists and ensure that the appropriate remediation and/or management of such sites is implemented.

Inspection Strategy and Public Register

This strategy details how we will investigate and deal with land that may be contaminated. By investigating land we will ensure that all land in the borough is suitable for use and does not pose unacceptable risks to people, the environment, water or property.

Public Register

As part of the contaminated land regime, Local Authorities have a statutory obligation to keep a register of contaminated land. The information stored on a formal register of contaminated land is that relating to regulatory action and remediation that has been undertaken at sites within the Borough.

At the present date no sites within the Borough have been determined as ‘contaminated land’ or as ‘special sites’, and as such, there are currently no entries in the register.

Buying and Selling Houses

Conveyancing solicitors routinely carry out ‘environmental’ searches in relation to the land or property their client is interested in buying.  If potential land contamination is identified as a result of the search, further enquiries are normally made of the Local Authorities Environmental Health Department, Planning Department and Building Control Section.

The leaflet below, produced by EPUK, outlines the issues involved; the significance of contamination and why it is important for homeowners; and explains where help and advice can be obtained.

Building on Brownfield Land

Land Contamination is a material consideration in determining planning applications and despite the introduction of the Part 2A legislation in April 2000, the planning process still remains the main driver for dealing with land contamination.

The Local Authorities in Nottinghamshire have produced an advice note for developments on land potentially affected by contamination to give guidance to applicants on the reporting requirements expected to satisfy the planning process, i.e. to ensure that land is adequately investigated and that remediation will make the land suitable for its proposed use.

Domestic Heating Oil Leaks

Oil is one of the most common causes of contamination. It can affect human health and property. It can also pollute water courses, damage plants and wildlife, make soil infertile and ruin habitats.

Nationally, the number of pollution incidents caused by faulty or badly maintained domestic central heating oil tanks has increased in recent years. Leaked oil can be very difficult and expensive to clean up. In some circumstances houses have been evacuated because of oil soaked into the ground nearby producing fumes and odours, making it impossible to live in the properties.

For advice on how to prevent a leak from your oil fired central heating system and what to do if you have an oil leak or a spill during delivery look at the leaflets below. A little time and money spent on maintenance now may avoid clean-up costs of thousands of pounds in the future.

Growing Edible Crops on Unused Land

There has been increased publicity recently regarding the potential to grow food on ‘under-used land’, such as urban green spaces and derelict land.

The leaflet Growing Edible Crops is aimed to draw gardeners’ attention to the possibility that the soil may contain elevated levels of contaminants that could pose a risk to human health, both through contact with the soil and through eating food grown in the soil, and to provide information on what can be done to reduce these risks.