Issue - meetings

To consider the Contaminated Land Strategy - Post Consultation.

The Committee considered a report on the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy following an external statutory consultation.

It was RESOLVED that the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy 2024-2029 be adopted subject to the track changes as set out in the report.

The Committee considered a report on the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy following an external statutory consultation.

The Chair invited The Assistant Director (Planning and Regulatory) to present the report to the Committee. He advised that the strategy outlined how the Council would fulfil its statutory duties regarding contaminated land. He reminded the Committee that the draft strategy was first presented in December 2023 and subsequently went out for public consultation in March and April 2024. The consultation yielded four substantive comments, which were detailed in paragraphs 4.3 to 4.6 of the report. Each comment was addressed, with necessary amendments made to the policy including suggestions from members. The updated policy with track changes, included in Appendix A of the report, remained largely unchanged from the version presented in December 2023.

A Member asked a question relating to the process for determining contamination of land. The Assistant Director (Planning and Regulatory) responded that if the contamination issue arose during the planning process, conditions were typically imposed if the land had been previously developed. Historical records from the former development corporation provided information on previously developed sites. For greenfield sites or those with potential spoil from infrastructure projects such as motorways, specific records existed. New planning permissions often included a condition requiring a contaminated land strategy if the site’s history suggested potential contamination.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director (Planning and Regulatory) for the presentation.

It was RESOLVED that the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy 2024-2029 be adopted subject to the track changes as set out in the report.