Contaminated land

• to provide advice to Planning and Development Control on matters relating to the development of contaminated land
• inspection of the Council's area for the purpose of identifying contaminated land sites and inspecting them on a priority basis
• to complete and maintain a public register of contaminated land 
• to respond to complaints and requests for service from service users with respect to contaminated land
• to provide advice to all stakeholders on matters regarding contaminated land within the Council's area of responsibility

We have developed a comprehensive index of records and digital mapping systems detailing potential contamination within the county. This data has been gained from current Ordnance Survey maps, historical maps as provided by Landmark Information Group Ltd dating back as far as 1855, planning records and aerial photographs.

The council is able to undertake searches of specific locations and supply information currently held by the council that is specific to your enquiry. The council does not guarantee the accuracy or sufficiency of the information for your purposes in relation to the site you have identified. Nor does the council guarantee that the information is relevant for any specific purposes that you may have in mind in relation to the site. You are advised to undertake your own site searches and other investigations and to analyse the results of those investigations using competent specialist advisors. Within the context of the report no recommendations will be made with respect to the suitability of the land for a specific purpose. The service will only be used to provide environmental information.

All enquiries to: publicprotectionwest@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

As part of the Council's duties under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 ("the Act") the following contaminated land register is held and maintained, as prescribed in section 78A (2) of the Act. The contents are prescribed by law and is a register of regulatory action taken by Wiltshire Council as enforcing authority.

The register contains prescribed particulars relating to the following:

1. Remediation Notices
2. Appeal against remediation notices
3. Remediation statements/declarations
4. Appeal against charging notices
5. Designation/termination of land as Special Site
6. Notification of claimed remediation
7. Conviction for offences under s.78M of The Act
8. Other contaminated land matters as prescribed

Copies of the public register are available for inspection at the relevant area office. Copies can be provided on request however a charge is made. For more details, please contact us.  contact us.

1. Remediation Notices

Notice served to secure remediation and specify timeframe for actions; where Wiltshire Council has identified land situated in its area as being contaminated land, as defined in section 78A(2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

• Former Warminster Gasworks Site, Furnax Lane, Warminster BA12 8SJ. Grid ref ST 867 461. Date 2007.
• Ansty, Edgebridge, Mere, Wiltshire BA12 6DB. Grid ref 381646/132099. Date 2013.

2. Appeal against Remediation Notices

Recipients of Remediation Notices may appeal to the Secretary of State against the terms of the notice.

• Scotland Lodge Cholderton Salisbury SP4 0EJ (records Held at Salisbury Office, please ring to arrange access) remediation notice. Grid ref SU 2015 4292. Date 2011.

3. Remediation statement/declarations

The council is occasionally restricted by the Act from serving a remediation notice. Where this is the case, the council must prepare and publish a 'remediation declaration' and the responsible person will submit a 'remediation statement'. Section 78E(5),(6)&(7).

• No entries

4. Appeals against charging notices

Councils are entitled to recover costs incurred in carrying out remediation works from 'the polluter'. A polluter who receives a charging notice may appeal to the magistrates' court within 21 days.

• no entries

5. Special sites

Some sites are designated by the law as 'special sites' and these get referred to the Environment Agency for their oversight. These include specific industries such as gasworks or specific conditions such as pollution of ground water.

• no entries

6. Notifications of claimed remediation

There are some circumstances where remediation may be carried out by a party and they then forward a notification detailing the remediation they claim to have carried out. Section 78R(1)(h) &(j).

• Talbot Cottage Hazzard's Hill Mere Warminster Wiltshire (records held at Salisbury Office, please to call to arrange access). Grid ref ST 816 325. Date 2004.

7. Conviction for offences under s.78M of The Act

If a person on whom an enforcing authority serves a remediation notice fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any of the requirements of the notice, they are guilty of an offence.

• no entries

8. Other contaminated land matters

This section covers interactions between the different areas of the act with respect to Pollution Prevention and Control, and waste management.

• no entries

Postal Address

Public Protection, Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JD

Telephone: 0300 456 0107
Email: publicprotectionwest@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)

Last updated: 31 March 2023

If you are buying or selling a house, land contamination may have been considered as part of the Conveyancing process. In most cases, contamination will not be an issue but in a minority of situations it may raise itself as a concern in third party search reports. In such cases it is possible, through the councils environmental enquiry service, to obtain an indication of the contaminated land regulatory status for a given site.

If so then please contact us and let us know. The Council has undertaken a vast data gathering exercise to try and identify all the sites in the Council's area, however we recognise that the best sources of information are those people who have lived in the area for a long time and have seen industry come and go. We would be very grateful for as much information as you can provide us. If you run or are a member of a local historical society then please get in touch as your group may hold information that would be very useful to us.

If you have heating oil tanks, large stores of chemicals or fuels on your property or have had in the past then there is a small chance these could cause contamination of the ground. The seasonal filling of oil storage tanks occasionally gives rise to a loss of oil though tank or line failure, the consequences of which can be time consuming and costly. Contact us for if you would like any more information.

The local authority planning process is the primary means by which land identified for development may be required to be screened for the possibility of land contamination being present. Where land put forward for development has a contaminative history the planning process secures its investigation and remediation such that it is suitable for its intended use; and land should not be capable of determination as contaminated land once a development has been through the Planning process. This is reflected in the advice given in Wiltshire Councils Contaminated Land SPD (currently under review) and the requirements of the The Building Regulations 2000 (opens new window).

Radon (opens new window) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from very small amounts of Uranium in all rocks and soils. It is present throughout the UK but due to geological and soil conditions it can be present in higher concentrations in certain areas.

The Health Protection Agency and the British Geological Survey have identified areas within the UK where radon levels may be high.  

Often the first you hear about Radon is when you are trying to buy or sell a house and your Solicitor mentions it as part of the conveyancing process. The Health Protection Agency, in conjunction with Defra and the former National Radiological Protection Board has produced a useful booklet and information pack to explain all about radon and what to do if you are concerned about radon affecting a house you are thinking of purchasing.

You can find out more information about radon and  order a free information pack (opens new window).

If you wish to contact the Health Protection Agency they can be contacted at: UK Health Security Agency

Website: https://www.ukradon.org/ (opens new window)

Address:
Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 0RQ

Email: https://www.ukradon.org/contactform (opens new window)

Phone: 01235 822622

We hold records and information in accordance with the Environmental Protection retention policy, which can be found in the downloads section.