Contaminated land
How may land become contaminated?
Land may become contaminated when substances have found their way on or into the ground - often due to industrial disposal, leaks or spillages. These substances may still be present in the ground above background or acceptable levels.
Land formerly used by industries may now be used for other purposes which are more sensitive to the potential effects of contamination.
Buying or selling property
If you are buying or selling a property it is important to know if the land may be affected by potential contamination because of its historical uses.
See our residential contaminated land page for more information.
Information requests and charges
We hold numerous records which can be used to assess potentially contaminated land. Such assessments may be for land redevelopment, acquisition or due diligence purposes.
See our environmental search page for charges and submit a request online.
Report a contaminated land incident
Contact us to report any of the following contaminated land issues:
- Records of processes, chemicals used, or pollution incidents occurring at former factories (anecdotal evidence, photographs).
- Knowledge of materials buried on former factories or deposited in landfill sites.
Land development
If you are a developer or environmental consultant looking for guidance on redeveloping land which may be potentially contaminated, please refer to the contaminated land and environmental search section.
Fly-tipping
If you have witnessed rubbish being dumped illegally or come across fly-tipped waste, please tell us.