Contaminated land

What is contaminated land?

North Staffordshire was historically a centre of industry. Coal, iron and clay were obtained from the ground and used to manufacture chemicals, steel and ceramics. The by-products of these industries were disposed of without consideration of the environmental impacts.

In order to address this industrial legacy, in 2000 central government enacted legislation which placed a duty on local authorities to find land contamination. Where it poses an unacceptable risk to people or the environment, we need to treat it.