We provide a contaminated land search facility, producing environmental search reports for the public, developers and for environmental contractors/consultants.

Why have a contaminated land search?

As part of the house buying process an environmental search is often undertaken by a private search company who offer a professional opinion and a 'certificate'. Such certificates are not a legal requirement and are intended to help you interpret the findings of your commercial environmental search.

If you are not issued with a certificate, or the professional opinion requires further action, it does not mean that the land is contaminated, just that more detailed information may be needed. A contaminated land search undertaken by your local authority can provide you with the further information you need.

Developers and consultants may require detailed information in order to help characterise sites and inform decisions prior to their purchase or redevelopment. The contaminated land search provides information held by us that can form part of a Phase I Desk Study report to establish the previous uses of the search site or land nearby or adjacent to it, and to identify potential sources of contamination, receptors and pathways.

Information provided in a contaminated land search

We undertake searches based on the radius requested and will include all:

• site history, based on historical Ordnance Survey mapping, noting the presence of any potentially contaminating former land uses such as landfills and industrial processes
• permitted processes under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016

This will also include a search of our records with:

• any known records of gas emissions and contamination issues in the immediate area
• any known remediation or remediation notices
• information from site investigations and remediation reports held
• details of the site in regards to our Inspection Strategy under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990

Should you require any further detailed information, an additional cost may be incurred.

How to apply for a contaminated land search

We charge £101.40 per hour (£84.50 + VAT) for our searches, this covers the cost of officer time spent searching records and preparing the response.

We will respond to your enquiry within 20 working days from receipt of payment.

Please include:

• any details you have in relation to further action highlighted by independent searches
• the address or plan of the area that you would like us to look at
• questions that you would like answered

Part 2A statements

Part 2A statements acknowledge any potentially contaminating land uses that affect the property and provides clarification on the current status of land. As set out in Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

This search is to obtain a pass result for a commercial search that has concluded further action is required.

The information provided relates only to the site itself.

Fee

A Part 2A statement search costs £50.70 (£42.25 + VAT) per 30 minutes of officer time.

Residential property searches

Residential property searches produce a detailed report for developers or consultants, to provide historical information of a site as part of a Phase 1 Desk Study site assessment.

Or, to provide a detailed report as part of the conveyancing process for members of the public and solicitors who are interested to understand the site history.

This will include information relating to the site and a 250m radius.

Fee

A Residential property search costs £101.40 per hour (£84.50 + VAT) per 1 hour officer time.

Commercial property searches

Commercial property searches produce a detailed report for developers or consultants, to provide historical information of a site as part of a Phase 1 Desk Study site assessment.

Or, to provide a detailed report as part of the conveyancing process or due diligence for interested parties who need to understand the site history.

This will include information relating to the site and a 250m radius.

Fee

A commercial property search costs £202.80 (£169 + VAT) per 2 hours officer time.

Contact

Please email environmental.health@bcpcouncil.gov.uk if you are unsure which search you need.