Land pollution

 
 

Contaminated land strategy

The council has inspected the borough for potentially contaminative historical industrial land uses. The inspection strategy, submitted to the Environment Agency in July 2001, detailed how the Council took a  'rational, ordered and efficient approach'.

The inspection strategy was scheduled to run up to July 2006. An overview of the objectives for each stage is presented in

The programme looked at urban residential areas first of all. Sites close to historic locations, controlled waters and protected environmental areas were also examined. No problem sites were found and hence we will not be declaring any 'statutory contaminated land' based on information we have found.

The overall philosophy behind this is that almost all of Westminster has been developed since before the industrial revolution. Heavy industry did not develop here and most development took place along the east Thames corridor. Some light industry developed in areas near to the Thames near Victoria and also adjacent to the canals in Paddington and adjacent to the railway termini that were built at the end of the 19th century.

Although there are contaminated soils in Westminster it is impossible to analyse what is actually in the ground because there is often a building on top of it; usually with a thick concrete slab. This building may be built on the site of an old works with potential contaminative uses but we have no way of knowing if there is contamination and if so what it is e.g. oil, heavy metals, asbestos etc.

Thus we have recognised that some sites on which there is either partial or full demolition, identified during the planning process will be cleared up as part of the major development of the site. We will condition applications according to the Unitary Development Plan. These sites will be dealt with as they arise. The central London boroughs have written a

This guidance is primarily for property owners, 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, in most cases, is likely to arise from a previous use of the site, or an adjacent site, that had an industrial activity on it at one time or another.

The management of Council-owned land is not managed by the Environmental Health Department. Council-owned land has a separate plan in the Inspection Strategy document. It is managed by the Housing and Corporate Property Departments - separating the enforcement and land-owning functions of the Council.

Westminster City Council is the lead regulator on contaminated land in the borough. However, the Council will work in partnership with other organisations, particularly the Environment Agency, wherever necessary. Consultation on this Inspection Strategy was undertaken within the Council and with the Environment Agency.

Views and comments are sought from readers on the content, style and conclusions of the Inspection Strategy. These will be taken into account in the annual reviews which will be produced in the first quarter of each year.