land pollution

What is contaminated land?

Under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act, the statutory definition of contaminated land is

any land which appears to the local authority in whose area it is situated to be in such a condition, by reason of substances in, on or under the land, that

  • significant harm is being caused or there is significant possibility of such harm being caused;
  • or, pollution of controlled waters is being caused or is likely to be caused.

To meet this definition there must therefore be the following components:

Source ---> Pathway ---> Receptor

Responsibility

South Cambridgeshire District Council is responsible for enforcing the contaminated land legislation. The council has various duties with regard to polluted sites, under planning law and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The Health Protection Unit acts as advisers to all council departments on land contamination issues. It supplies information, assesses the adequacy of site investigations and remediation measures and monitors approved schemes during development.

Duties

South Cambridgeshire District Council will therefore:

  • Carry out inspections of all land within its district that may be contaminated.
  • Ensure that developed land is suitable for its use.
  • Keep a Public Register of designated contaminated land sites.

The Council has published a Contaminated Land Strategy outlining how it will carry out these duties.

For further advice and information contact 08450 450 063 or email environmental.health@scambs.gov.uk

Alternatively, contaminated land service requests (This link will open in a new window) can be submitted online.

See also