Contaminated land

Industry, waste disposal and accidental spillages of contaminants can cause contamination of land. If not dealt with, it can be a threat to human health, the environment and the development of the city.

Contact Details:

Address: Pollution and safety service, Southampton City Council, Southbrook Rise, 4-8 Millbrook Road East, Southampton.
Postcode: SO15 1YG
Telephone: 023 8083 4166
Email: pollution.safety@southampton.gov.uk

Details of service:

As regulator, landowner and planning authority the city council is responsible for ensuring that:

• The land in its area is suitable for its current use.
• Land in its area is made suitable for any new use.
• That land recognised as being "contaminated" is made suitable for its current or proposed use.
• It leads by example, when managing contamination on its own land.

The council's Pollution and Safety team carries out the council's duties in respect to the Part IIA regime. We also:

• act as advisor to other council departments about land contamination.
• maintain records on land quality.
• assess site investigations provided with redevelopments proposals to ensure they comply with UK policy.
• oversee remediation schemes to ensure sites are suitable for use.

Identification of Contaminated Land - “Part IIA” Regime

Southampton's industrial past presents a risk of land in the city being subject to land contamination.

A new statutory regime came into force on 1 April 2000 in England. It is an improved way of identifying and cleaning contaminated land, known as “Part IIA”.

Development on potentially contaminated land

We have produced a leaflet which will help developers, agents and consultants deal with the planning issues around developing sites where land contamination might be a problem.