Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy 2024 to 2029

Risk assessment software

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council purchased the Jacobs site categorisation software which is linked to the Geographical Information System 4 [GIS4] for the purpose of prioritising potentially contaminated sites.

The database will be updated as new information about a site is received, and the risk categorisation adjusted. The system is to be reviewed and updated to incorporate new themes and environmental information.

The data sets which will be updated by the Contaminated Land Officer includes desk top studies, site investigation, remediation reports, and Local Authority Integrated Pollution Control Authorisations. The external datasets are also to be updated and include discharge consents, waste management licenses and active licenses, British Geological Survey and Defra Environmental Data.

The information will be used to support planning application and Environmental Information requests under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The reports will be used during strategic preliminary inspections of sites and to determine whether further intrusive site investigations are required.

Requests for environmental information

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council will comply with the provisions of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Data Protection Act 2018, and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2019 in all responses to requests for environmental information.

Care will be taken to ensure that the information provided is as accurate and correct as possible to avoid 'blighting' land and raising unfounded concerns.

Environmental information requests are normally to provide environmental information pertaining to property sales or development.

Data confidentiality

Site Prioritisation Inspection List of potentially contaminated sites is held using appropriate organisational and technical measures to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2019, in accordance with the Councils Policy on data protection.

This data that is held is mainly incomplete and unverified and therefore reports, including conclusions based on strategic preliminary information, or incomplete data pertaining to sites that are potentially contaminated, will be treated as confidential. 

Part 3 12(4)(d) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 provides an exemption for disclosing incomplete data.

Information provided to the Council by a third party during its inspection and assessment of land for potential contamination, will also be classified as confidential and will only be disclosed for public inspection with the prior agreement by the information provider.

Public register                                                                                                               

Section 78R of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to maintain a Public Register relating to actions pertaining to land which has been formally identified as contaminated land. The Public Register of Contaminated Land is available for viewing during normal office hours, by prior appointment at:

Environmental Health Unit
16 Church Road
Stockton-on-Tees
TS18 1XD

Telephone: 01642 526575
Email: Environmental.Services@stockton.gov.uk