Overview

Contamination, in most cases, is likely to arise from a previous use of the site or an adjacent site, that had an industrial activity on it at one time or another.  If present, it can present a risk to human health via direct contact, inhalation or ingestion, or damage the wider environment (for example surface water, ground water or ecosystems). Dealing with contamination can be a complex matter which invariably needs specialist scientific expertise.  A number of consultancies specialise in advising on this type of work and will be needed to carry out site investigation work and remediation (including that carried out on-site or if necessary the removal of contaminated material to licenced disposal sites) before any development work begins.

To understand what is involved in this, we would recommend reading the followings web pages, which explore:

• statutory guidance and best practice relating to contaminated land
• steps a builder should take to make sure they do not put their health at risk
• pointers for residents if there is a problem