Land quality

Policy EN7- Land Quality

New development should demonstrate that:

• a) any existing contamination of the land will be addressed by appropriate mitigation measures to ensure that the site is suitable for the proposed use and that there is no unacceptable risk of pollution within the site or in the surrounding area; and
• b) the proposed development will not cause the land to become contaminated, to the detriment of future use or restoration of the site or so that it would cause pollution in the surrounding area.

Brownfield Sites

The Framework suggests the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment through the remediation and mitigation of contaminated land.

Core Strategy Policy 1: Locating Growth recommends the use of brownfield sites. As these sites have been previously developed, there is the potential for such sites to be contaminated.

The contamination of land can have adverse impacts on health and wellbeing, as well as damaging wildlife and contributing to the pollution of water bodies.

New development on these sites presents an opportunity to bring contaminated land back into beneficial use whilst improving the water quality both for surface water and groundwater.

Source Protection Zones

Source Protection Zones are used to identify those areas close to drinking water sources where the risk of harm from contamination of groundwater is greatest.

Developers are encouraged to consult Environment Agency guidance regarding Source Protection Zones.

Horses

Information and guidance on development involving the keeping or riding of horses is contained in the Rural Development Supplementary Planning Document (PDF, 1 MB).

The Supplementary Planning Document includes information on matters which the Council will take into account when assessing the acceptability of equestrian development and criteria that is to be met when considering applications for development involving horses.