Contaminated Land in Warrington: Professional Risk Assessments

Warrington’s approach to contaminated land: a guide for developers

Warrington’s industrial history has left it with the most contaminated land sites in the UK. A recent survey revealed that approximately 23% of the borough (over 41 million square meters across 1,759 sites) is considered contaminated, presenting Warrington Borough Council with unique challenges. It has established comprehensive policies to manage and remediate contaminated land to enable sustainable development and safeguard public health.

Understanding contaminated land in Warrington

Warrington has been a hub for industries such as coal mining, heavy industry, foundries, and chemical manufacturing. These activities have left behind substances like oils, metals, and organic compounds. Contaminated land refers to areas where substances such as heavy metals, oils, tars, chemical solvents, gases, asbestos, or radioactive materials are present at levels that could pose risks to human health, property, controlled waters or the environment.

Warrington Council’s policy on potentially contaminated sites and the legal framework

Under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Warrington Borough Council is mandated to identify and oversee remedial work on contaminated land. Paragraph 197 of the National Planning Policy Framework states that developers or landowners are responsible for safely redeveloping contaminated land.

The local planning authority Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy outlines procedures for site inspection, risk assessment, and remedial work as part of planning conditions. Additionally, Warrington Borough Council maintains a Contaminated Land Register documenting sites designated as contaminated and any remediation actions taken.​

Promoting brownfield redevelopment

To balance urban development with environmental protection, the local authority encourages the redevelopment of brownfield land – previously developed and potentially contaminated land sites. This approach aims to reduce pressure on greenfield areas and support sustainable growth. The Warrington Borough Council Local Plan emphasises the importance of utilising brownfield land for new housing and commercial projects.​

Steps for developing potentially contaminated land

If you’re considering developing a potentially contaminated land site in Warrington Borough, follow these steps:

• Pre-Application Consultation: Engage with the local authority planning department early to discuss potential contamination issues and required information requests.​ ​A contaminated land risk assessment is likely to be needed before a planning application will be considered for potentially contaminated sites.

• Preliminary Risk Assessment: Conduct a desk study and site walkover to identify potential contamination sources and pathways.​ The assessment is conducted by a geo-environmental consultant according to the Environment Agency’s Land Contamination Risk Management guidelines.

• Site Investigation: If necessary, perform detailed investigations, including soil and groundwater sampling, to assess contamination levels.​

• Remediation Work: Develop a comprehensive plan to remediate identified contaminants, ensuring the site is safe for its intended use.​

• Validation and Reporting: After remediation, provide evidence to the local planning authority demonstrating that the site meets all safety and environmental standards.​

Role of geo-environmental consultants

Geo-environmental consultants play a crucial role in assessing and managing potentially contaminated land. Their responsibilities include:​

• Conducting Assessments: Performing desk studies, site investigations, and risk assessments to identify contamination issues.​

• Developing Remediation Plans: Designing strategies to mitigate or remove contaminants effectively.​

• Liaising with Authorities: Working with the council and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with legal and environmental standards on potentially contaminated sites.​

• Monitoring and Validation: Overseeing remediation work and providing validation reports to confirm that the site is safe for development.​

Sustainable progress

Warrington Council collaborates with developers and consultants to facilitate the transformation of historically contaminated sites into valuable assets for the community, in line with its broader goals of urban regeneration and environmental stewardship. This proactive approach to managing contaminated land ensures that development within the borough is both safe and sustainable.

For more information about how Arbtech’s expert geo-environmental consultants can help you, fill in our quick quote form at the top of this page.