Land pollution

Contaminated land enquiries

We are often asked by purchasers of property and their legal representatives if there is any contaminated land under specific sites in Westminster. In Westminster there are no Special Sites registered under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 78R-T, and none where notices have been served under Part IIA Section 78.

Information on possible contaminative past uses is available from Ordnance Survey historical maps. These maps are searchable on this website as well as some commercial vendors. Look for "historic maps" and contaminated land". We will be adding recent development sites to the web maps which will include a copy of the remediation report, where available. Also we will be adding nuisance (noise, odour, dust etc) investigations to the maps, although information will be limited and non personalised because of Data Protection Act issues. In the case of the latter write to the the Noise and Nuisance Team, 4th Floor City Hall, London SW1P 

Also the location of any nearby private water supplies is available on our maps. There are also maps of Part B processes controlled under Environmental Protection Act 1990 (mainly petrol stations). In Westminster there are no Part A processes. There are no recent domestic refuse landfill sites, sludge disposal or diseased animal burial sites that we are aware of in Westminster.

The Council does not accept any legal liability for any loss or damage arising from the supply of this information and you are strongly advised to make further enquiries. Possible sources of information are:

Westminster Archives: 10 St Ann’s Street, London SW1P 2DE. Phone – 020 76415180; http://www.westminster.gov.uk/archives.

London Metropolitan Archives: 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB. Phone – 020 73323820.

Petroleum Officer, London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority: 20 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SD. Phone – 020 75823811.

Environment Agency: Hatfield Office, 2 Bishops Square Business Park, St Albans Road West, Hatfield, Herts AL10 9EX. Phone – 01707 6323000.