Contaminated Land Inspections Carried out Per Year from 01/01/2022 to 01/06/2026
Case reference EIR2026/01312
Received 9 June 2026
Published 29 June 2026
Request
The BBC has reported <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gez4zgk8ko> that in the year 2000, local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales were ordered to draw up a list of potentially contaminated sites in their area and remediate those considered a genuine risk to human health.
I would like the following under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).
1) The number of potentially contaminated sites identified by your council since 2000.
2) The number of these sites that were deemed high risk.
3) The number of sites inspected that had significant levels of contamination, but have since been remediated.
4) Details of the location of the potentially contaminated sites that were deemed high risk.
o This could be in the form of addresses, lat and long coordinates, or grid reference numbers.
o I would like this information sent to me in an Excel friendly format.
5) The number of contaminated land inspections carried out per year by the council, from 1 January 2022 to 1 June 2026.
6) The amount of money currently allocated to contaminated land work in the council’s most recent budget.
7) The date of their last published Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy produced by your council.
Response
The BBC has reported <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gez4zgk8ko> that in the year 2000, local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales were ordered to draw up a list of potentially contaminated sites in their area and remediate those considered a genuine risk to human health.
I would like the following under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).
1) The number of potentially contaminated sites identified by your council since 2000.
Answer: The Service Area have advised there are currently 8,131 sites on our prioritisation list which have been prioritised in accordance with statutory guidance. However, this is subject to available information and any changes in information available can affect the prioritisation and as such the list is not complete and is a continuous work-in-progress.
2) The number of these sites that were deemed high risk.
Answer: The Service Area can confirm the top 100 sites ranked on this Council’s prioritisation list of potentially contaminated sites that merit individual inspection have been given a ‘high priority’ status.
3) The number of sites inspected that had significant levels of contamination, but have since been remediated.
Answer: The Service Area have advised in July 2002, Herefordshire Council formally designated as ‘contaminated land’ a closed municipal landfill site which has since been remediated. The site is approximately 40 acres of land (16.2 hectares) and is located at Stretton Sugwas, west of Hereford.
· Site Address:
Stretton Sugwas Closed Landfill site
Off A4103
Stretton Sugwas
Hereford
HR4 7PT
· OS Co-ordinates
345820, 242244
4) Details of the location of the potentially contaminated sites that were deemed high risk.
o This could be in the form of addresses, lat and long coordinates, or grid reference numbers.
o I would like this information sent to me in an Excel friendly format.
Answer: The Service Area have advised, as mentioned in point 1, the prioritisation list is not definitive and will continue to be an iterative process. As such we are unable to provide details of the location of the potentially contaminated sites that are deemed high risk.
In addition, I would also like to request, under EIR:
5) The number of contaminated land inspections carried out per year by the council, from 1 January 2022 to 1 June 2026.
Answer: The Service Area have advised no contaminated land inspections were carried out by the council, from 1st January 2022 to 1st June 2026.
Many sites have been subject to assessment through the planning regime. These have been remediated where necessary thereby negating the need for Part 2A involvement. With contamination remaining a material consideration within the planning process, it is likely this will be the primary mechanism for assessment and remediation of potentially contaminated sites in Herefordshire.
It is unlikely further significant proactive Part 2A investigations will be carried out in the foreseeable future given effective withdrawal of central funding and Local priorities and constraints.
6) The amount of money currently allocated to contaminated land work in the council’s most recent budget.
Answer: The Service Area have advised there is currently no money allocated to contaminated land work in the council’s most recent budget.
However contaminated land work can be somewhat reactive, and additional resources can be allocated where required to manage risk.
7) The date of their last published Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy produced by your council.
Answer: The Service Area have advised this Council’s Contaminated Land Strategy was published in 2019.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.