Contaminated Land in Hull: Inspection for Pollutants

Pollutant Problems in the Hull Area

This article looks at the legacy of contamination in Hull, the council’s approach to redeveloping polluted land and what you need to do if you have plans for a contaminated site.

Hull’s industrial legacy and contamination issues

Hull’s former industries, particularly shipping, chemical manufacturing, and oil refining, have led to areas of land contamination. Common contaminants include heavy metals, hydrocarbons and chemical residues. The council proactively identifies and assesses these sites to mitigate potential risks.

Hull City Council’s approach to contaminated land

Hull City Council manages contaminated land to ensure public health and environmental safety while promoting sustainable development. This approach is guided by national legislation and local strategies tailored to Hull’s industrial history.

By collaborating with developers and consultants, the council facilitates the transformation of historically contaminated sites into valuable community areas. This land remediation strategy aligns with broader goals of urban regeneration and care for the environment.

Brownfield redevelopment

The council supports the redevelopment of previously developed brownfield sites to reduce pressure on greenfield areas and promote sustainable urban growth. It maintains a Brownfield Land Register of sites suitable for residential development.

The council’s contaminated land strategy comprises:

1. Inspection and identification: the council conducts inspections to identify potentially contaminated land, prioritising areas posing the highest risk to public health and the environment.
2. Contaminated Land Register: a public register is maintained, documenting sites designated as contaminated under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act.
3. Guidance for developers: detailed guidance on land remediation is provided for developers planning to build on land with contamination risks.

What are the risks from reusing contaminated land?

Disturbing contaminated ground can open new pathways for pollutants to spread to receptors such as people, water courses or ecosystems. For any risk to exist, the following three factors must be present: without all three there is only a minimal risk.

1. Identified contamination.
2. A pathway for the contamination to reach receptors.
3. A receptor.

Contaminated land: the legal issues

The definition of contaminated land can be found in Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990: it refers to any site where substances in or under the ground present significant risks to health, property, or the environment. Under this legislation, local authorities must identify and remediate land where contamination poses significant risks to health or the environment.

When dealing with potentially contaminated land, there are three key principles:

• A risk-based approach: making a full assessment of the likelihood of a scheme resulting in harm to people, water sources and the environment.
• `Polluter Pays’: land remediation on contaminated sites is the responsibility of whoever caused the problem if they can be identified.
• Remediation via development: the land should be fully assessed by a future developer and be restored as part of the scheme.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Paragraph 197 states that responsibility for correctly redeveloping contaminated land lies with the developer or landowner – and sometimes both.

Developing on contaminated land in Hull

If you are required to carry out a contaminated land risk assessment to support a planning application, the first step is to contact the local authority’s planning department for a Pre-Application Consultation. This will enable discussion of specific contamination issues and you can request information about the reports needed.

The Contaminated Land Risk Assessment

If a contaminated land risk assessment is required, a geo-environmental consultant can carry this out in accordance with the Environment Agency’s Land Contamination Risk Management guidelines:

• Phase 1. Desk studies: a consultant will study the site’s history via maps and environmental records. Former uses of the site will be established to help identify potential sources of contamination.
• Phase 2. Contaminated land investigation: this stage involves an on-site inspection. Consultants will take samples of soil and groundwater for testing and in some cases vapour extraction and ground gas surveys may be required. Trial pits may also be dug to assess ground conditions. Some consultants will use a conceptual site model to help get a full picture of a site.
• Risk assessment: potential risks to health, controlled waters and the wider environment will be evaluated.
• Land remediation: if pollution is confirmed, a range of remediation measures will be brought into play to remove contaminants. The remediation process might involve treatment of contaminated soil on-site or its removal for off-site attention. Areas of a site may be capped with soil or other materials to contain contamination.
• Validation and reporting: the remediation work will be inspected by environmental consultants to ensure that it complies with regulatory standards and planning conditions. A report will be made to confirm this to the local authority.

A site assessment can enable plans to proceed

Following a contaminated land investigation and risk assessment, geo-environmental consultants can recommend the best land remediation steps to take to remove contaminants and enable a project to proceed. As well as allowing you to assess the cost effectiveness of the proposed land remediation, adopting this phased approach will comply with regulations set by the Environment Agency and legislation.

Arbtech’s geo-environmental consultants are highly experienced in conducting land risk assessments to support planning applications. If you plan to develop land that carries contamination risks and would like to request information, fill in our quick quote form at the top of this page.