Contamination and pollution

This topic provides essential insights into identifying, assessing, and mitigating environmental contamination risks, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations. Equip yourself with practical strategies to advise clients on remediation processes and liability issues while staying abreast of critical legislative changes. Gain expertise in navigating regulatory frameworks, enforcement actions, and sustainable practices to effectively counsel clients on reducing environmental impact and legal exposure.

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Air pollution Contaminated land regime Environmental damage Water pollution

Latest Environment News

Planning decisions, EIA, HRA, indirect and in combination effects following Finch (Caffyn v SCC)

Planning decisions, EIA, HRA, indirect and in combination effects following Finch (Caffyn v SCC)

The following Planning news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Planning decisions, EIA, HRA, indirect and in combination effects following Finch (Caffyn v SCC)

TNFD launches discussion paper on nature-related portfolio assessment methods

TNFD launches discussion paper on nature-related portfolio assessment methods
Planning document disclosure, EIR 2004 exceptions (Farnsworth v IC)

Planning document disclosure, EIR 2004 exceptions (Farnsworth v IC)

The following Planning news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Planning document disclosure, EIR 2004 exceptions (Farnsworth v IC)

Environment weekly highlights—7 August 2025

Environment weekly highlights—7 August 2025

The following Environment news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Environment weekly highlights—7 August 2025

Featured Environment content

Private nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher—common law liability for environmental harm

Private nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher—common law liability for environmental harm

Nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher—common law liability for pollutionPrivate nuisancePrivate nuisance is an unlawful interference with a...

Public nuisance—general principles

Public nuisance—general principles

Public nuisance—general principlesPublic nuisanceThe common law offence of public nuisance was abolished by section 78 of the Police, Crime,...

Meaning of waste—definition of waste

Meaning of waste—definition of waste

Meaning of waste—definition of wasteDefinition of Waste'Waste' is defined in the Waste Framework Directive, Directive 2008/98/EC (WFD) as any...

Environment Agency (EA)—powers of entry

Environment Agency (EA)—powers of entry

Environment Agency (EA)—powers of entryThe Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have...

Practice notes

Commercial Property Standard Enquiries (CPSE)—environmental and health and safety considerations and additional enquiries

Commercial Property Standard Enquiries (CPSE)—environmental and health and safety enquiriesCommercial Property Standard Enquiries (CPSEs) are industry...
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Produced in partnership with Keith Davidson of Irwin Mitchell
30th May
Practice notes

Highway drains and culverts

Highway drains and culvertsFor the purposes of s 100 of the Highways Act 1980, a ‘highway drain’ is defined as including a ditch, gutter, watercourse,...
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Produced in partnership with John Bates of Old Square Chambers
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Environmental insurance—when is it needed?

Environmental insurance—when is it needed?What is environmental insurance?Environmental insurance is a risk transfer solution to indemnify the insured...
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30th May
Practice notes

Riparian ownership—rights and responsibilities

Riparian ownership—rights and responsibilitiesWhat does riparian ownership mean and who does it affect?‘If you own land or property next to a river,...
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Produced in partnership with Argyll Environmental and Burges Salmon
30th May
Practice notes

Control of asbestos—asbestos surveys

Control of asbestos—asbestos surveysLegal requirementsThere is a legal presumption that any non-domestic buildings (and the common parts of domestic...
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30th May
Practice notes

Environmental management—environmental management systems (EMS)

Environmental management—environmental management systems (EMS)What is an environmental management system (EMS)?An environmental management system...
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Produced in partnership with Colleen Theron of Ardea International
30th May
Practice notes

Water pollution—legislation

Water pollution—legislation This Practice Note looks at the key legislation in England and Wales for controlling and preventing water pollution and...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)—snapshot

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)—snapshotTitleUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)Parties168Adopted10...
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30th May
Practice notes

Judicial review—sufficient interest (standing) in environmental matters

Judicial review—sufficient interest (standing) in environmental mattersOriginally produced in partnership with Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers and...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Contaminated land—remediation notices (service and appeal)

Contaminated land—remediation notices (service and appeal)What is a remediation notice?A remediation notice is a formal written notice that requires...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Energy performance certificates (EPCs)—issues for commercial landlords and tenants

Energy performance certificates (EPCs)—issues for commercial landlords and tenantsThis Practice Note looks at some of the key practical issues for...
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2nd Jun
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Practice notes

Environmental management—environmental legal registers

Environmental management—environmental legal registersWhat is a legal register?A legal register is the documented output from a process where an...
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Produced in partnership with Colleen Theron of Ardea International
30th May
Practice notes

Environmental liabilities—what are clean-up liabilities?

Environmental liabilities—what are clean-up liabilities?Clean-up liabilities are legal and financial obligations to remediate pollution or...
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30th May
Practice notes

Contaminated land—meaning of remediation

Contaminated land—meaning of remediationMeaning of remediation'Remediation' is given a relatively wide definition in the Environmental Protection Act...
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30th May
Practice notes

Contaminated land—who may be liable?

Contaminated land—who may be liable?Who may be liable?Anyone who is an 'appropriate person' may be liable for remediation of contaminated land under...
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30th May
Practice notes

Subsidence and sinkholes

Subsidence and sinkholesIntroduction to subsidenceSubsidence occurs when the ground underneath a structure is unable to support it effectively.Many...
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30th May

Popular documents

Water pollution—legislation

Water pollution—legislationDischarges of pollutants to surface water, groundwater or public sewer generally require an environmental permit or consent. This Practice Note looks at the key legislation in England and Wales for controlling and preventing water pollution and the associated

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid

Contributory negligence in personal injury claims

Contributory negligence in personal injury claimsContributory negligence is a partial defence which can lead to a discount in damages.Other defences may also be relevant. See Practice Notes: Did the claimant consent to the risk of injury? and Was the claimant involved in an illegal activity?If a