Contaminated land

Contaminated land is land that has within it or on or under its surface substances that may pose a risk of significant harm to human health or to the wider environment, including water resources, the local ecosystem and built structures.

Contamination in land largely arises as a result of industrial activities or past waste disposal practices.

Historical perspective

Although in more recent times there has been a decline in the industrial uses made of land in Wandsworth, from about the 18th century onwards there has been a considerable amount of industry operating within the borough. Many of these industries developed along land adjoining the River Thames and the River Wandle using the river water for power and/or transport. Nevertheless, there have also been industrial operators in other parts of the borough.

There has been a wide variety of potentially polluting industrial processes active in the borough, ranging from gas works, large-scale oil storage depots and metal foundries to mills, engineering works and petrol stations.

You can find out more about contaminated land at the Environment Agency web site.