Background and Introduction
The industrial revolution has left a legacy of contaminated land in Scotland.
Historically, the Falkirk Council area was an important centre for mining, iron products and chemical manufacture.
Due to its industrial past the Falkirk Council area has sites which are potentially impacted by contamination.
Contamination can pose immediate or long-term risks to human health and the wider environment.
Contaminants can migrate and cause air, land, surface water or groundwater pollution, damage to buildings and underground services, or contaminate the food chain. Land contamination is addressed by the Local Authority through planning, building and environmental legislation.
Where a site comes forward for development, landowners/developers are required to improve land condition to ensure that any contamination risks are addressed through the planning and building standards process. Land that is not subject to a planning/building warrant application will be considered under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (PDF, 800KB)|, as amended.
In 2001, Falkirk Council set up a Contaminated Land Team in respect of its statutory duty in order to identify any sites that may be posing a potential risk to the residents or wider environment within Falkirk area.
Further information on the work carried out by the Contaminated Land Team can be obtained from the Contaminated Land Strategy or by contacting the team.