Land contamination is a material planning consideration for new development.

If a development site or land adjacent to the development site has had any previous industrial uses or has been used for the disposal or treatment of wastes, there is the potential for the site to be contaminated. Between 800 and 1,000 planning applications are submitted to the Development Control Team (Planning Services) each year, many of which involve development on potentially contaminated sites.

Where there is reason to suspect that a site may be contaminated and there is the possibility that the contamination may affect the proposed development, the applicant will be required to submit reports in support of their planning application.

What happens to your planning application and the submitted reports?

The Environmental Protection Team reviews planning applications and supporting reports and makes recommendations to the planning officers regarding the imposing and discharging of planning conditions relating to land contamination.

The team also liaises with applicants to:

• discuss information requirements (both pre- and post-application stages)
• request additional information and revisions to proposed actions, as necessary, to safeguard public health or the environment
• to advise planning officers on whether a site has complied with the relevant planning conditions

It is the responsibility of the developer to ensure that a development is safe and "suitable for use" for the purpose for which it is intended.

Contaminated Land Developer Check List	(PDF 133 KB)
Contaminated Land Guide For Developers	(PDF 134 KB)

The National House Building Council (NHBC) in association with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Environment Agency (EA) has produced a document called Safe Development of Housing on Contaminated Land.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Environmental Protection Team:

Chesterfield Borough Council
Environmental Services
Town Hall
Rose Hill
Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S40 1LP
Phone: 01246 345767
Fax: 01246 345760
email: pollution@chesterfield.gov.uk