Contaminated land Register
Where there is land that has been proven as having a risk of harm to people or the environment because of substances in the soil it will be placed on a public register of contaminated land. This is free to view on the council website or in person. There is currently no contaminated land in Southend-on-Sea.
Southend has a rich and varied industrial and commercial past. However there was not always the knowledge or controls that we have today about some substances or material that were used in those activities or disposed of into the ground. As a result there may be harmful substances remaining in the ground that could be exposed particularly where these former industrial sites are developed.
When land is redeveloped, developers and land owners must ensure that it is safe for the future occupier and that will not a problem form contamination will not arise in the future. The majority of sites are cleaned up (or remediated) through the planning process and we use detailed planning conditions to make sure of this, including requesting the developer to prove that it has been remediated. We hold records of where we have found previous industrial or commercial uses so we can check when planning applications are made to make sure the land is suitable for its end use. Enquiries regarding any remediation works which may have been carried out as a condition of a planning application should be directed to the Councils Development Control Team.
Southend-on-Sea City Council and the Environment Agency also have a public registers of certain industrial sites that require Environmental Permits. Before a permit is surrendered when the site is left or changed the holder has to ensure that the site is safe. The councils register of sites is available to be downloaded. Please view the Environment Agency website for further details of how to access its records on the Gov.uk website.
Additional Search Information
If you are buying or selling a property or wish to redevelop land that has had a previous use you may need additional information to make an informed decision e.g. to satisfy mortgage companies or to help with predicting development costs.
We can provide environmental information that the council holds but is not included on public registers. This is a chargeable service under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
To make a search request please log into My Southend and in your account page select Neighbourhood and Environment found in the drop-down in the Menu. Select, Your Environment and then Environmental Enquiry where you will find the form to complete and payment method.