What is Contaminated Land?

Land that is contaminated contains substances on or under the surface that are potentially hazardous to the environment and peoples well being. Throughout the UK numerous sites have become contaminated by human activities and industrial activity such as mining, chemical and oil spills and of course waste disposal. Pollution can also occur naturally as a result of the geology of the area, or through agricultural use.

Cleaning up Contaminated Land

Where land is found to have been contaminated, then it must be restored to a state in which it is 'suitable for use'. The local authority will agree with the responsible persons the degree to which the land should be cleaned up, in relation to the risk that the land is posing to health or the environment and pollution of watercourses and groundwater.

In the case of redevelopment, the developer will be responsible for ensuring that the site is suitable for its intended use, and in most cases the enforcement of any remediation requirements will be made via formal agreements such as planning conditions and building control.

What Solutions are Available?

A site affected by contamination may need remedial treatment before it can be used or redeveloped. There are many ways in which this may be achieved, ranging from 'dig and dump' (taking contaminated soil away to licensed landfill sites) to the use of techniques that treat soil and water either in-situ or off-site, to eliminate or reduce the amount of contamination. The choice of approach is site specific and will depend on various factors such as the type of contamination, physical circumstances of the site, ongoing site use and regulatory requirements.

Land Remediation Tax Relief

Businesses can claim relief from corporation tax for land remediation. The rate of relief is 150 per cent of the qualifying clean-up cost. Read about land remediation tax credits on the HMRC website.