Why is contaminated land cleaned up?
Contaminated land is cleaned up (remediated) in order to prevent significant harm or the possibility of significant harm being caused to a statutory receptor/s, for example people moving into houses built on a former brownfield site. Statutory receptors and significant harm or the possibility of significant harm are defined in DEFRA Circular 01/2006 (Annex 3) which also includes harm caused by radiation. For the remediation of brownfield sites guidance is given in planning document PPS 23 Planning and Pollution Control (PDF; external link) to advise the Local Planning Authority on a suitable approach. A hard copy of this guidance is available on request from the Local Planning Authority or Environmental Health.
