Contamination can be present on any piece of land. Contamination is where substances are in such high concentrations that they could cause harm to human health or the wider environment. These substances are normally associated with industrial processes, such as gas works, tanneries or foundries. However, contamination can also be caused by substances that occur naturally in the environment within rocks and soils.

Contact

If you have any questions regarding contaminated land in York, please contact us.  We can investigate complaints of contamination. We can do desk studies, take samples and assess the results. Please note that contamination of watercourses and underground water is investigated by the Environment Agency.

Contaminated land strategy

The council are the lead regulators for contaminated land in this area. We are actively looking at land to identify contamination. We have produced a strategy that sets out the commitments the council has made. It also explains what the general public, commercial and industrial sectors can expect the council to do to fulfil its regulatory role.  Our strategy has been split into chapters and can be downloaded to the right of the page.

The Contaminated Land Strategy includes a requirement for regular updates. The 2005 update, describing progress between 2001 and 2005, can also be downloaded to the right of the page.

Contaminated land and planning

To allow your application to be dealt with quickly, contact us to discuss requirements before you make your application. We can also provide help and assistance for post-planning work. Contact us for more information. Failure to contact us in advance could lead to lengthy delays in assessing your application.

Buying a home

If you are buying or selling a home and are concerned about contaminated land we can offer advice and guidance. Contact us for more information.

Developers and consultants

If you are a developer or a consultant you can download further advice and guidance to the right of the page.