Past industrial uses in Teignbridge has caused areas of land to become contaminated in various forms over many years. The ground around an old factory, for example, may contain substances which can, in some cases, present a risk to people, animals, vegetation, rivers and streams, buildings and the groundwater system from which we obtain our drinking water.

Contaminated land strategy

Our contaminated land strategy sets out how we will identify, investigate and remediate contaminated land.

Developing contaminated land

Advice on what should be submitted with a planning application:

Technical guidance advice note 1 - contaminated land

Technical guidance advice note 2 - for investigating and remediating contaminated land

All investigations of land potentially affected by contamination should be carried out by or under the direction of a suitably qualified competent person and in accordance with BS10175 (2001) Code of Practice for the Investigation of Potentially Contaminated Sites.

The competent person would normally be expected to be a chartered member of an appropriate professional body (such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, Geological Society of London, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Institution of Environmental Management) and also have relevant experience of investigating contaminated sites.

The Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC) qualification administered by the Institute of Environmental Health Management provides an accredited status.