The Environmental Protection Team is responsible for
regulating contaminated land and fulfilling the Council’s
requirements under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act
1990.
Contact Us
If you have any other queries relating to the
Contaminated Land regime please contact the Environmental
Protection Team on:
Tel: 01638 719733 Fax: 01638 719357
Email:
enviroprotection@forest-heath.gov.uk
Post: Environmental Services, District Offices, College Heath Road,
Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7EY
Description of
the contaminated land management process
The Council is the lead regulator regarding contaminated land,
working in partnership with other organisations such as the
Environment Agency, which has specific roles in the provision of
information, consultation on local authority inspection strategies
and acting as the enforcing authority in the case of “special
sites”. The Council’s contaminated land strategy highlights the key
characteristics of Forest Heath and documents the Council’s
priorities and approach from the identification of potentially
contaminated land to remediation measures.
The Council has set out
its priorities to deal with contaminated land, which are to:
-
Protect human
health
-
Protect controlled
waters from pollution
-
Protect designated
ecosystems
-
Prevent damage to
property
-
Encourage voluntary
remediation to return land that is fit for use
-
Encourage the re-use of
previously developed land
In addition to our
statutory duties, Environmental Services provide advice and respond
to enquiries from the public as well as advising developers and the
Council’s Planning Department with respect to applications for
development on or close to potentially contaminated land.
Latest
News
- Since late 2007 Forest Heath has began investigating
potentially contaminated sites within the District, on a priority
basis
FAQ's
Q: I am trying to sell my house and need confirmation that
my property is not situated on contaminated land. What should
I do?
A: As FHDC are only in the early stages of implementing our
inspection strategy, we may not be able to confirm whether the land
is contaminated or not in accordance with Part IIA of the
Environmental Protection Act 1990. If this is the case you
may wish to employ the services of a competent consultant to
undertake your own investigation which may satisfy any potential
buyers.
Q: Who is responsible for the costs of clearing up a
contaminated land site?
A: The cost of remediation will fall to any person/s that Forest
Heath District Council can establish "..knowingly permitted
the substances, or any of the substances, by reason of which the
Contaminated Land in question is such land to be in, on or under
that land ..." (as defined in the Statutory Guidance). If
this person cannot be established after "reasonable inquiry" then
the Owner or Occupier of the land may bear the costs.
Contaminated
Land Public Register
Forest Heath District Council holds a
register of all sites that have been formally determined as
'Contaminated Land' within Forest Heath, as defined under statutory
guidance. On the 18th February 2008 there were no
entries on this register. For upto date information please
contact us directly.
Useful
Documents
Useful
Links