Contaminated land case study - Stockton

Residents in an area of Teesside are breathing a huge sigh of relief after learning their terrace houses, built on contaminated land, will not have to be demolished.

Seven houses in Yarm's West Street were identified as standing on contaminated land in June 2005 and homeowners have endured months of waiting for results as investigations were carried out around their homes. The affected properties were built on the site of the town's old gasworks, constructed in the late 1800s. Later the premises were used to make oilskins and it is believed that waste from both manufacturing processes could have contributed to the pollution of the land.

Preliminary studies conducted by Stockton Council found no short-term health risks although they did confirm the presence of lead, arsenic and mercury in the soil. Experts stated that the site, responsibility for which has passed from the council to the Environment Agency, must still be cleaned up as there remains a potential risk to residents from direct contact with the soil. Residents have been told they will not be expected to pay for the remediation. DEFRA have funded all investigations on the site to date and is expected to continue doing so throughout the clean up operation.

One resident living on West Street said. "I hope this means we can now sell our houses. I've lost money because of this. I'd brought another property and had a sale ready, but it fell through".

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