Paragraph 17 Contaminated land and groundwaterI1

Any stage of the authorised development must not commence until a written scheme applicable to that stage to deal with the contamination of any land, including groundwater, within the Order limits which is likely to cause significant harm to persons or pollution of controlled waters or the environment has, after consultation with the relevant planning authority and the Environment Agency, been submitted to and approved by the relevant planning authority.

The scheme must include an investigation and assessment report (including a desk based study), prepared by a specialist consultant approved by the relevant planning authority, to identify the extent of any contamination and the remedial measures to be taken with respect to any contaminants on the site.

The stage of the authorised development must be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme.

Where the scheme sets out remedial measures to be taken with respect to any contaminants on the site, a verification plan must also be submitted providing details of the data that will be collected in order to demonstrate that the remedial measures are complete and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages, maintenance and arrangements for contingency action.

If, during development, contamination not previously identified is found to be present at the site, no further development (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the relevant planning authority) is to be carried out until a remediation strategy detailing how this unsuspected contamination will be dealt with has, after consultation with the relevant planning authority and the Environment Agency, been submitted to and approved by the relevant planning authority. The remediation strategy must be implemented as approved.

Paragraphs (1) to (5) do not apply to any currently operational railway land.