Elmbridge, like much of the UK, has an industrial history. Former industrial and brownfield sites have the potential to have been contaminated through the release of pollutants rendering them unsafe to human health and the wider environment.
Part 2A of The Environmental Protection Act 1990 is employed to deal with land contamination only where no appropriate alternative exists. The redevelopment of brownfield land via the planning system is the main route for remediation of this land to make it safe and suitable for its new use.
Homeowners living on a former brownfield site need to be aware that future development of the land, for example any extension, may need to consider past historical contamination to ensure things remain safe and suitable.
The redevelopment of land within the borough supports the council's Vision 2030 for a sustainable, thriving Elmbridge driven by the power of our community.
Contaminated Land Strategy
Our Contaminated Land Strategy sets out how the council will implement legislation and guidance to manage risks to human health and to ensure new developments are safe and suitable for their new use.
Currently, there is no land within Elmbridge that has been formally classified as ‘contaminated land’ under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Requests for information
We maintain a database of information about land where the potential for ground contamination may exist. Information on specific sites is available on request by making an inquiry under the Environmental Information Regulations:
Make an Environmental Information Regulations enquiry
Searches cost £65 per hour and an estimate of the cost to conduct a search will be provided, based on the information you request. The fee is not VAT chargeable. Work on your enquiry will not be started until full payment of the estimate has been received. The standard response time is 20 working days from the date payment is received.
Guidance for developers of new and brownfield sites
The redevelopment of previously used sites and derelict land within the borough will continue to remain the primary mechanism for dealing with contaminated land. See Planning Policy for more information.
For the recognised best practice in managing land contamination see GOV.UK: Land contamination – technical guidance.