The government have prepared a plan to address the issue of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. Contamination by PFAS, dubbed "forever chemicals" is widespread across the UK, with recent data showing the chemicals present in 46% of groundwater and 88% of surface water samples. It is reported that over 10,000 high-risk sites have been identified, and investigations have found PFAS in drinking water sources across 17 of England's 18 water companies.

The government website states:

Searchland have estimated that there are 5,858 grey belt, or grey field, sites across the UK with the potential to provide 3.4 million homes. While as may be expected many are in former industrial heartlands some 18% of the identified sites are located in the southeast. For more information visit Searchland. 

Advantages and Disadvantages, with Comparison to Greenfield and Greyfield Development.

Brownfield land development has emerged as a pivotal aspect of sustainable urban planning, addressing the challenges of urban sprawl and environmental degradation. In this article, we will explore the intricacies of brownfield development, delving into its advantages and disadvantages, while drawing comparisons to the more conventional approach of greenfield and the recently coined greyfield development.

Understanding Brownfield Land

On 21 May 2024 the government announced:

"Planning rules coming into force today make it easier to convert unused farm buildings into new homes, farm shops and gyms.

Farmers will be able to convert their unused buildings into new homes and shops thanks to new planning laws coming into effect today.

The much discussed issue of nutrient neutrality affects 74 local authority areas in various parts of the country. Excessive levels of phosphates and nitrates contribute to the growth of algal blooms, which causes reduced oxygen levels with adverse impacts on aquatic life.

There are ways of achieving nutrient neutrality however practically and cost are the issues. For on-site solutions the natural options of fallow land and wetlands are generally impractical due to lack of space and the cost of treatment plants renders this out of reach for any but the largest schemes.

A Phase 1 Environmental Report provides information on the environmental condition of a site and helps buyers, lenders and developers make informed decisions about their investment or proposed development. In this blog post, we'll discuss what a Phase 1 Environmental Report is, why it's necessary, and how it works.

Why Are They Imposed?

GO Contaminated Land Solutions is pleased to announce that we have obtained CHAS Advanced Accreditation.  CHAS is the Contractors Health and Safety Scheme.  It is trusted as the leading provider of compliance and risk management solutions in the UK, setting benchmarks across a number of industries.  These include construction, housing and development.

It is thought likely that Schedule 3 will make SuDS mandatory and remove the automatic right to connection to the public sewer. It is anticipated that Schedule 3, will be implemented in England in 2024. There is an excellent article on this by Wavin.

Landfill Tax Grant Scheme:

Background

On 21 July 2022 the government opened a “Call for Evidence on a Proposed Landfill Tax Grant Scheme for the Remediation of Contaminated Land”. This closed on 18 August 2022.

The Defra website states: