Contaminated land and planning

Contaminated land and planning

Planning issues relating to contaminated land

When making a planning application to the Council, Section 15 (Existing Use) of the application form asks several questions relating to contaminated land.

• Land which is known to be contaminated
• Land where contamination is suspected for all or part of the site
• A proposed use that would be particularly vulnerable to the presence of contamination.

In order to answer these questions satisfactorily contact should be made with the Environmental Quality Team (contact details at bottom of the page) at the Council.

Environment Agency Developer's Guide

Developers should consult the Environment Agency Developer's Guide for guidance on developing on contaminated land sites.

Environmental search reports

As part of carrying out environmental assessments for sites we are able to produce environmental search reports which give details on the history of the site and Council records relating to the site.

Standard planning conditions

Our standard planning conditions relating to contaminated land that are placed on planning applications are as follows:

• No development shall commence until a desktop study, site investigation scheme, intrusive investigation and risk assessment have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Council. The desk study will identify all previous site uses, potential contaminants associated with those uses, a conceptual model of the site indicating sources, pathways and receptors and any potentially unacceptable risks arising from contamination at the site. The site investigation scheme will provide information for an assessment of the risk to all receptors that may be affected, including those off site. The risk assessment will assess the degree and nature of any contamination on site and to assess the risks posed by any contamination to human health, controlled waters and the wider environment. A detailed method statement for any required remediation works will need to be submitted to, and approved in writing, by the Council. All works must be carried out by a competent person conforming to CLR 11: Model Procedures for the Management of Land Contamination (DEFRA 2004).
• No development shall commence until any required remediation works have been completed and a validation report to verify these works has been submitted to, and approved in writing, by the Council unless otherwise authorised. If, during development, contamination not previously identified is found to be present at the site the Council is to be informed immediately and no further development (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Council) shall be carried out until a report indicating the nature of the contamination and how it is to be dealt with is submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the Council. Any required remediation should be detailed and verified in an amendment to the remediation statement. All works must be carried out by a competent person conforming to CLR 11: Model Procedures for the Management of Land Contamination (DEFRA 2004).

Guidance and legislation

Refer to the Guidance and legislation page for further details.

» Contaminated land

E-mail:environmental.quality@lbhf.gov.uk

Office:  020 8753 3454 
Fax:  020 8753 3922 
Address:  Public Protection & Safety Division
6th floor Hammersmith Town Hall Extension
King Street
London
W6 9JU