Contaminated Land

[Image: Contaminated Land]

The Role of the Council

Dundee City Council is under an obligation to find any sites within its area presenting a risk because of contamination and regulate remediation of these sites. The council must also determine the need for sufficient investigation and remediation of sites that are to be redeveloped via the planning process. The identification, remediation and safe re-use of contaminated land plays a key part in the sustainable development of the area.

The Contaminated Land Regime

Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which came into effect in 2000, provides the legislative control for the identification and remediation of historically contaminated sites. The local authority is the lead regulator in this duty, but where special sites are identified, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency take on the role of regulator. As part of this regime the council have prepared an Inspection Strategy which documents the means by which the council intend to tackle the duties imposed by Part IIA. Click on the links below to view Dundee City Council's Contaminated Land Strategy 2001.

In accordance with the legislation, the Council is required to create and maintain a Public Register of information relating to land statutorily designated as contaminated land in Dundee.

The Register is available for viewing at 1 Highland Park Way, Claverhouse West Industrial Park, Dundee, DD4 9UA. There are currently zero entries on the Register.

Contaminated Land and the Planning System

The Public Health and Pollution Control Section is consulted with regard to contaminated land where application is made for developments on previously used land (brownfield sites) which can be affected by contamination.

The council may require conditions to be attached to a planning permit requiring a site investigation and remediation works to be carried out.

In order to assist the council with making planning decisions and policy consistent with the new contaminated land regime, PAN 33 (Revised 2000) Development of Contaminated Land now replaces the previous PAN 33 (issued 1998).

Brownfield Sites

Sometimes we also hear about contaminated land when old industrial sites are redeveloped. These sites and other previously used land have become known as brownfield land. There is growing pressure to reuse brownfield land for redevelopment, particularly for housing.

The terms brownfield land and contaminated land often become confused, but they are not the same. Not all brownfield sites are contaminated, although it is frequently the case that some contamination is present on previously used land. Similarly it is possible to have contamination at sites that have only been used for, say, agriculture, or when contamination could have arisen from activities on neighbouring land.

Brownfield redevelopment can benefit both private and public investors and communities.

The Scottish Government now wants to bring as much brownfield land as possible back into use and is encouraging the regeneration of previously developed land to limit unnecessary development of greenfield sites.

The SEPA website contains a wealth of useful information and links to related websites.
Visit the NSCA site to download a copy of the leaflet "Land Quality - Contaminated Land in Scotland" published September 2002.

Contact:

Contaminated Land Officer
Environmental Health & Trading Standards Department
1 Highland Chief Way, Claverhouse West Industrial Park
Dundee, DD4 9UA
Tel: 01382 436260
Email: pollution.control@dundeecity.gov.uk

« Pollution Control

This information is provided by the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department