Contaminated Land Guide for Developers

Introduction

This guidance is aimed at owners, property developers, architects and surveyors who want to know what information they should submit to the Planning Department when they apply to re-develop, or significantly change the use of a piece of land, which could potentially be contaminated.

Contamination is most likely to arise from previous industrial use of the site or adjacent sites or from known pollution incidents. The onus for cleaning up such land under the planning process is not the same as cleaning up land under Part IIA of the Environment Protection Act 1990 – although the information we would request is similar. The conditions for cleaning up land under the planning process are to achieve a minimum standard that the property cannot be registered under Part IIA of the EPA 1990.

This information is for guidance purposes only. We are aware that the contents of any site investigation report will vary due to site-specific issues, e.g. the past use of the site, the nature and extent of the contamination and the proposed end use of the site. Developers are therefore recommended to seek the advice of an Environmental Consultant and the Local Authority if it is suspected that contamination may exist.

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