When may you be asked to undertake a contaminated land survey?

Local authorities can place conditions on planning permission requiring that developers investigate land contamination and, where it is found, clean it up to a standard where it is considered that there is no risk to future users of the site, controlled waters or environmentally sensitive habitats.

Under the contaminated land regime investigation may also be enforced by the local authority or Environment Agency even if a site is not being redeveloped, but is causing, or has the potential to cause, significant harm.

Desk studies may also form part of a due diligence report.