What should I do if my land is contaminated?

If you think your land may be contaminated, for example because of its past industrial use, there is a clear process to follow to find out and put it right.

Step 1: Desk Study

A desk study reviews historical records and old maps, along with information held by the local authority about contaminated land and any landfill sites nearby. If the desk study suggests that contamination is likely, a site investigation is usually recommended.

Step 2: Site Investigation

Soil and sometimes groundwater samples are taken from trial holes or boreholes across the site. These are sent for laboratory analysis, and a report is produced setting out what contamination is present and whether it poses a risk.

Step 3: Remediation

Removing contaminated soil and taking it to a licensed landfill site is one common solution, but it is not the only one, and a blanket approach is not always appropriate for the whole site. Contaminated hotspots can be dug out and replaced with clean material, covered with a clean soil layer or hard surfacing, or treated on site using methods such as bioremediation.

A specialist contractor will decide on the best approach, which usually needs to be agreed with the local authority. In some cases, long-term monitoring may be needed, especially where groundwater is at risk. For a Soil Remediation Service, visit Soilfix, suppliers of Soil Remediation Services.

Step 4: Validation

The final step is proving that the site has been properly remediated and is suitable for its intended use. A validation report is usually needed so that the relevant planning conditions can be discharged before the development can go ahead or be occupied.