Contaminated land

We aim to ensure that contaminated land is identified, investigated and remedied.

What is contaminated land?

Contaminated land is defined legally as land where substances could cause significant harm to people or protected species, or significant pollution of surface waters or groundwater.

This definition refers to contamination caused by past uses of sites such as:

• Former factories
• Mines
• Steelworks
• Refineries
• Landfills.

Our responsibilities

We have a regulatory role aimed at controlling threats to health and to the environment from land contamination. Every local authority is required to inspect land in its area for contamination.

Our contaminated land strategy outlines how we carry out this duty. It can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

How do I request a contaminated land check?

If you would like a contaminated land officer to search our records for information about contamination of a particular site in Leicester, and for past uses that may have involved contaminative processes please use the quick link above. The fee for this service is £162.

Planning and building control

We have a developer's guide which gives advice to property owners, developers, architects and surveyors when applying to develop, or significantly change the use of a piece of land, which may be contaminated. This guide can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

Developers are advised to contact our planning service at an early stage if proposing to develop land which may be contaminated.

We are also responsible for the control of work on or near to sites contaminated by industrial wastes. Call 0116 454 3160 for details.

Land charges

If you are buying a house, your solicitors may contact us to find out if the land has been contaminated in the past. For details of fees for this service, call 0116 454 1400 or send an email.