The Council holds a range of environmental information obtained from several sources, including historical maps. The Council’s Public Protection Section receives requests for Environmental Searches on a regular basis. A number of common reasons include: -
- For information regarding contamination and environmental issues in relation to a property sale.
- By consultants/companies undertaking an environmental assessment of a site.
The Council charges for carrying out Environmental Searches (see list of fees)
The reply we make is limited to the records available at the time the query is answered. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct, this cannot be guaranteed and Darlington Borough Council accepts no responsibility for its accuracy or otherwise.
The two standard environmental searches undertaken are detailed below:-
Environmental Search 1
Information regarding a property or site: -
- Past Industrial Use – including a series of past historical maps
- Details of any site investigations, where available, including gas monitoring results
- Details of any remediation work, where available
- Unlicensed, pre-licensed, closed or active landfill sites within a 250 metre radius
- Whether there is an entry on the public register under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
This type of search is geared more towards solicitors or individuals who are interested in contamination and environmental information in relation to a particular site or property.
In addition to the standard Environmental Search, photocopies of any reports can be obtained (see list of fees for further information).
Environmental Search 2
Information regarding the site in question and the surrounding land within a 250 metre radius: -
- Past Industrial Use – including a series of past historical maps
- A list of geoenvironmental reports for example site investigations, remediation and validation reports, where available, including gas monitoring results
- Unlicensed, pre-licensed, closed or active landfill sites
- Whether there is an entry on the public register under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
- Private Water Abstractions
- Tank Register
- Radon
- Part A and Part B Installations
- Nuisance Complaints
- Pollution Incidents
- Groundwater
- Source Protection Zones
- Surface Water
In addition to the standard Environmental Search, photocopies of any reports can be obtained (see list of fees for further information).
This standard search is geared towards a consultant who may be interested in undertaking an environmental assessment of a site and therefore may be interested in the site and surrounding land within a 250 metre radius.
Requesting an Environmental Search
Environmental Searches can be requested by letter, email, fax or by completing and sending our Request Form (by post, email or fax). Please also include a plan showing clearly the boundary of the site in question and your contact details.
Environmental Search request form (word document)
If paying by cheque or postal order please send full payment for a standard Environmental Search with your environmental search request (see fees).
Darlington Borough Council will provide information in response to a search request within 20 working days however we will endeavour, where possible, to respond sooner.
Requesting an environmental search has been defined as a “business as usual” request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The information is, therefore, exempt under Section 21 of the Act. If you would like more information on the Council’s policies and procedures on your information rights, please look at the Freedom of Information pages on the Council website.
Fees
You will appreciate that there are resource implications in searching for this information and preparing a suitable response and therefore it will be necessary to charge for this service, from 1 November 2007.
The fee for each of the two standard searches is £65 per site. This is based on the Contaminated Land Officer’s average time taken to respond to a standard request. The fee has been calculated on a maximum site of enquiry area of 10,000m2 and will include the historical maps.
Additional Information
Additional charges based upon the number of hours, or part hours taken to provide the information will be made if: -
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The site larger than 10,000m2.
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The distance of the buffers is greater than the standard 250 metre radius used for Environmental Search 2.
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Additional photocopying, for example copies of site investigations or remediation works is charged at 10p for a B&W sheet and 15p for Colour.
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Should you require information on the reports listed in Environmental Search 2 please contact Public Protection.
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Please contact the Contaminated Land Officer for an estimate of likely cost.
Methods of payment
By Post - Cheques or postal orders made payable to ‘Darlington Borough Council’. Please write ‘Environmental Searches – 16014 9221' on the reverse of the cheque.
For standard searches the payment can be forwarded to the Contaminated Land Officer direct along with your environmental search. Should you require any further information which will incur an additional charge we will contact you.
Should you have any queries regarding payment or wish to discuss other methods of payment please do not hesitate to email EnvironmentalSearches@darlington.gov.uk or contact the Contaminated Land Officer direct.
Contact Details
EnvironmentalSearches@darlington.gov.uk
Contaminated Land Officer,
Public Protection,
Darlington Borough Council,
11 Houndgate,
Darlington,
Co. Durham,
DL1 5RF
or
Contaminated Land Officer,
Public Protection,
DX Number 69280,
Exchange Darlington 6
Telephone: 01325 388599
Fax: 01325 388555 (marked for attention of Contaminated Land Officer)