Contaminated Land - We are assessing under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for enforcement. This complies with the Law Societies practice note on Contaminated Land.
Active Landfill: Sites currently or recently accepting waste disposal where rubbish and waste materials are actively buried. These sites are permitted by the Environmental Agency.
Active Petrol or Fuel Stations: Operating petrol stations or fuel storage sites.
Former Landfill: Previously used landfill sites no longer active but potentially still affecting soil quality.
Former Petrol or Fuel Stations: Sites formerly used as petrol or fuel stations that may have residual contamination.
Public Register of Contaminated Land: Officially recorded contaminated sites identified by local councils.
Contaminated Land Designated as Special Sites: Highly regulated contaminated sites due to complexity or sensitivity.
Consented Discharges to Controlled Waters (with Conditions): Sites permitted to discharge treated wastewater into rivers, groundwater, or the sea.
Environmental Pollution Incidents: Significant historical pollution events affecting the environment.
Manufacturing and Production of Industrial Products: Sites with licensed industrial manufacturing operations.
Former Military Sites: Locations historically used by the military potentially containing residual pollutants.
Regulated Sites: Environmentally regulated sites such as waste treatment plants or industrial facilities.
Historic Land Use: Areas with past industrial activities possibly resulting in hidden soil contamination.
Flood Risk – We are assessing this against the Law society’s Practice note on Flood Risk.
Fluvial (undefended): Risk of river flooding assuming no flood defences are present.
Pluvial: Surface water flooding caused by heavy rainfall overwhelming local drainage.
Tidal (undefended): Coastal or tidal river flooding risk without flood defences.
Groundwater: Flooding risk from rising underground water levels reaching the surface.
Flood Defences and Benefiting Areas: Zones protected from flooding by existing flood defence structures. These defences are only effective against Fluvial and Tidal flooding.
Flood Storage Areas: Designated regions meant to temporarily store floodwaters.
Historical Flood Areas: Locations that have historically experienced flooding.
Planning Constraints
Green Belt: Protected land around cities limiting development to prevent urban sprawl.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Protected scenic landscapes limiting development activities.
National Parks: Areas protected for natural beauty and heritage, strictly managing development.
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC): Ecologically important habitats protected under conservation laws.
Special Protection Areas (SPA): Areas protected specifically for bird species and habitats.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Nationally protected sites for their wildlife or geological importance.
Ramsar: Internationally protected wetlands recognised for ecological significance.
Nature Reserves: Protected areas managed primarily for wildlife conservation and public enjoyment.
Listed Buildings: Historic buildings legally protected from unauthorised alterations.
Scheduled Monuments: Legally protected archaeological or historic structures of national significance.
Certificates of Immunity: Buildings legally exempt from heritage listing for a set period.
Ancient Woodland: Long-established woodland areas protected due to ecological importance.
Registered Parks and Gardens: Historic parks and gardens preserved for their cultural or landscape value.
World Heritage Sites: Areas internationally recognised for outstanding universal cultural or natural value.
Open Access: Land designated for public roaming under specific rights-of-way legislation.
Radon
Radon: Naturally occurring radioactive gas potentially accumulating indoors, posing health risks.
Transportation
Overground Rail: Standard rail network above ground.
Overground Rail – Elizabeth Line: Cross-London railway line, partially underground.
London Underground: The Tube network in London.
HS2: Planned high-speed railway connecting London and the North.
HS2 Safeguarding Zones: Areas reserved by law for potential HS2 construction and restricted development.
Energy and Infrastructure
National Grid: High-voltage electricity transmission network including pylons and substations.
Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences: Government-issued permits for oil and gas exploration.
Power Stations: Facilities generating electricity from various sources.
Solar Renewable Energy Sites: Large solar panel installations generating electricity.
Wind Renewable Energy Sites: Wind farms or significant turbine installations.
Other Renewable Energy Sites: Renewable energy facilities other than wind or solar.
COMAH Establishments: Facilities regulated due to storing hazardous substances.
Ground Stability
Shrink–Swell Clays: Clay soils prone to expansion when wet and shrinkage when dry.
Running Sands: Sands that can liquefy and flow when saturated with water.
Compressible Ground: Ground likely to compress under weight, especially when wet.
Collapsible Deposits: Soils that suddenly compact when saturated.
Artificial Ground: Land significantly altered by human activities.
Dissolution of Soluble Rocks: Ground prone to forming underground cavities from dissolving rocks.
Landslides: Areas potentially vulnerable to ground movement or slope collapse.
Coal Mining
Coal Authority – Coal Mining Reporting Area: Zones historically associated with coal mining, requiring detailed surveys.
Climate Change
Shrink–Swell (Climate Change): Future potential changes to soil stability due to climate impacts.
Flooding (Climate Change): Projected flood risk alterations due to climate change scenarios.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): Official document rating home energy efficiency.
Heat Stress Susceptibility: Identifies areas where rising temperatures and prolonged heatwaves are most likely to impact property and human health.
Wildfire Susceptibility: Highlights locations with environmental and climatic conditions that increase the risk of wildfires near property.
Drought Susceptibility: Pinpoints regions where water scarcity and soil dryness could affect land stability and long-term habitability.
Coastal Erosion Extent (No Active Intervention): Projected shoreline erosion without intervention.
Coastal Erosion Extent (Shoreline Management Plan): Shoreline erosion projections with planned interventions.
Coastal Erosion Susceptibility: Likelihood of erosion based on geological and environmental factors.
Planning Applications
Large Scale Developments - Large planning applications include proposals concerning multiple dwellings, significant infrastructure projects or large scale (>150kw) renewable energy installations. The search area is within 250m for super urban areas, within 500m for urban areas, and within 750m for rural areas.
Environmental Search Report Glossary - Small planning applications include proposals concerning works such as an extension or renovation of a single dwelling. Medium planning applications refer to proposals concerning 2-5 dwellings, small infrastructure projects such as mobile phone masts, or small scale (<150kw) renewable energy projects. The search area for small and medium planning applications, respectively, is within 20m and 50m for super urban areas, 30m and 100m for urban areas, and 50m and 200m for rural areas.