Dealing with contaminated land in Brighton: planning application support
Brighton is best known for its vibrant seaside culture, Regency architecture and tourism industry. However, beneath its scenic appeal lies a lesser-known industrial past that has left its mark on land around the city.
We explain Brighton and Hove City Council’s strategy for dealing with potentially contaminated land. Firstly, we look at the history of contamination in the area.
Brighton’s Industrial Legacy
Unlike northern cities, Brighton doesn’t have a history of heavy manufacturing, but it did host industries that contributed to potential land contamination. Historic gasworks, printing, and engineering industries, along with smaller-scale metalworking, left their footprint. The old Brighton Gasworks site, for instance, is one of the most notable brownfield areas with concerns over contamination.
What are the Contamination Risks?
The main contamination risks in Brighton come from its past industrial sites, landfills, and the legacy of fuel storage. Substances like heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and asbestos can sometimes be found in the soil, posing potential risks to human health and the environment. Groundwater pollution is another concern, given Brighton’s reliance on underground water sources.
How Brighton and Hove City Council Tackles Contaminated Land
Brighton and Hove City Council takes potentially contaminated land issues seriously and follows national regulations to ensure sites are safe before any new development begins. Developers are required to conduct thorough land assessments and if tests showed contamination, put remediation plans in place. This could involve removing polluted soil, capping affected areas, or using techniques to neutralise contaminants. The council also works closely with the Environment Agency (EA) to ensure the protection of controlled waters.
Brighton is committed to regenerating brownfield sites safely and sustainably. The Gasworks site, for example, is part of plans for mixed-use redevelopment, with a focus on housing and green spaces. The council aims to balance urban growth with environmental protection, ensuring that new developments enhance the city while addressing historical contamination.
The Risks from Developing Contaminated Land
New routes for pollutants to spread into the environment may be created from uncovering contaminated land. Three elements must be present for a threat to be valid: a contamination source; a pathway for pollution to reach a receptor, and a receptor (for example, people or the environment.)
Contaminated Land Legislation
Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 defines contaminated land as a site where substances in or beneath the ground pose significant risks to health, property, or the environment. Three principles must be observed:
- A Risk-Based Approach must be taken to assess potential harm to human health and the environment.
- The Polluter Pays Principle: if the polluter can be identified, they must pay for remediation work.
- Remediation Through Development: remediation measures must form part of future development.
While local authorities must identify potentially contaminated land, Paragraph 197 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), states that developers or landowners (sometimes both) are responsible for safely redeveloping contaminated land.
Site Assessments
Effective remediation strategies can be drawn up following site investigations and risk assessments by geo-environmental consultants, ensuring compliance with regulations.
The Contaminated Land Risk Assessment Process
As a first step, a pre-application meeting with the local authority is advisable to confirm the necessary reports.
A contaminated land risk assessment is likely to be needed before a planning application is considered: this will clarify the remediation work required before development.
The assessment is conducted by a geo-environmental consultant according to the Environment Agency’s Land Contamination Risk Management guidelines.
- Phase 1: A desk study investigates a site’s environmental and industrial history to assess contamination risk.
- Phase 2: Contaminated Land Investigation: soil and groundwater will be tested for contaminants. Trial pits may be dug to analyse the ground, and a conceptual site model may be developed.
- Risk Assessment: potential risks to human health and controlled waters will be considered.
- Remediation Planning: where contamination is confirmed, a remediation strategy will be devised. This may involve on-site or off-site soil treatment, groundwater purification, or capping contaminated areas.
- Validation and Reporting: reports will be submitted to the local council to verify that remediation meets regulatory standards.
Site Assessments Improve Project Outcomes
Brighton and Hove City Council is keen to work with developers and geo-environmental consultants to ensure the safe redevelopment of potentially contaminated land. This phased approach ensures compliance with EA regulations and legislation, and results in appropriate development.
To find out how Arbtech’s geo-environmental consultants can help with contaminated land assessments, complete the quick quote form at the top of this page.