Contamination discovered on your site
- 4 steps
UK Statutory Instrument
2006
England
Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2006
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
5 compliance obligations, 4 practical guides · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
2 of 5 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 3 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Occupier 1
- Any Person 1
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Developing contaminated or brownfield land
- 7 steps
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Occupiers also bound by 259 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 2021 39 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 34 duties
- The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 1995 34 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 23 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 18 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 27 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
SPECIAL SITES
COMPENSATION FOR RIGHTS OF ENTRY ETC
PARTICULARS PRESCRIBED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 78R(1)
The families and groups of substances relevant for the purposes...
The formations of rocks relevant for the purposes of regulation...
Interpretation
Period for making an application
Manner of making an application
Loss and damage for which compensation payable
Basis on which compensation assessed
Payment of compensation and determination of disputes
Remediation notices
Designation of special sites
Notification of claimed remediation
Convictions for offences under section 78M
Guidance issued under section 78V(1)
Other environmental controls
Where the enforcing authority is precluded by virtue of section...
Where, as a result of an environmental permit granted under...
Appeals against remediation notices
Any decision on such an appeal.
Remediation declarations
In relation to any such remediation declaration—
Remediation statements
In relation to any such remediation statement—
Appeals against charging notices
Any decision on such an appeal.
Content of remediation notices
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with a contaminated land remediation notice Occupier
- Fail to comply with a remediation notice Any Person
Service of copies of remediation notices
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Authorities must share copies of remediation notices with affected parties Statutory regulator
Notification of Secretary of State's decision on an appeal
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must notify you of the appeal decision Crown / Minister / Government department
Modification of a remediation notice
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must notify and hear affected parties before modifying notices Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 10 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation, commencement, application and interpretation
Land required to be designated as a special site
Pollution of controlled waters
Compensation for rights of entry etc
Grounds of appeal against a remediation notice
Appeals to the Secretary of State
Hearings and local inquiries
Suspension of a remediation notice
Registers
Revocations
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (opens in a new tab) from MHCLG Detailed Guidance
- BS 10175 Investigation of potentially contaminated sites (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Contaminated Land Statutory Guidance (DEFRA 2012) (opens in a new tab) from DEFRA Publication
- Land Contamination Risk Management (LCRM) (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Publication
- Environment Agency guidance on land affected by contamination (opens in a new tab) from MHCLG Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Environmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.