Agenda item

That the proposed updated Strategy be agreed and suitable for the purpose of informing planning officers, applicants, developers and consultants regarding Council approach to dealing with contaminated land, according to the latest Regulations.

The Cabinet considered a report that sought approval of the updated version of the Contaminated Land Strategy 2018-2023 which set out the approach to the review of land in the borough that was potentially contaminated.

The current strategy had been published in 2001 and extensive work had been undertaken to update the risk prioritisation procedure and Developers’ Guide, take account of implementation of the existing strategy and reflect changes to legislation and statutory guidance since 2001.  There were approximately 1000 sites identified in Slough with some form of industrial use. The principle mechanism to bring about improvements to contaminated land was achieved through the planning process and 100 sites had been remediated since 2001 in this way.

The Cabinet discussed the methods use to identify sites, the risk based approach and the categorisation process for sites.  It was recognised that the strategy was an important tool in bringing about improvements to contaminated land and agreed that the strategy be adopted.

Resolved –  That the proposed updated Strategy be agreed and suitable for the purpose of informing planning officers, applicants, developers and consultants regarding Council approach to dealing with contaminated land, according to the latest Regulations.