Information about contaminated land in the borough and Part 2A site investigations
Lime Kiln Road, Gayton
As part of our routine inspections, we have collected information about the old quarries and lime kilns. You can read the inspection report by selecting Lime Kiln Road from the dropdown box at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions, please contact the environmental quality team.
Land contamination
Early industrialisation in the UK and the re-use of land has resulted in land contamination. We inspect land under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to determine:
- if it's contaminated, and
- if this could cause problems for health or the environment
There are two processes that we use to deal with land contamination:
- contaminated land inspection process (statutory route)
- planning process (enables brownfield sites to be brought back into beneficial use via a site investigation and remediation)
Most sites that could be affected by contamination are assessed and remediated through planning conditions attached to the development.
Contaminated Land Inspection Process
We inspect the land in the borough for contaminated land, to make sure these areas are suitable for use.
The Land Inspection Strategy explains how we do this. A short non-technical version is also available.
Contaminated land register
No sites to date have been formerly determined as contaminated in our borough. So there are no sites on our contaminated land register.
Investigated sites
Here is our index of sites investigated but not included on the register:
| Site name | Address | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Blackborough End | Mill Drove, Blackborough End | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Broadend Road Brickyard | Broadend Road, Walsoken, King's Lynn | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Crimplesham Pit | Crimplesham, King's Lynn | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Dersingham Pit | A149 Queen Elizabeth Way, Dersingham |
Not determined as contaminated land Site to be kept under review |
| Docking Common | Fakenham Road, Docking | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Downham Market former RAF site | Bexwell Road, Downham Market | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Fairfield Rd refuse tip & sewage works | Fairfield Road, Downham Market | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Feltwell Landfill | Lodge Road, Feltwell | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Former Oil Fields | Lynn Road, Setchey | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Gap Farm | Grimston Road, King's Lynn | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Gravel Hill | Gravel Hill, West Winch, King's Lynn | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Hardings Pits | Hardings Way, King's Lynn | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Heacham Brickworks | Lamsey Lane, Heacham | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Heacham Tip | Lynn Road, Heacham | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Hilgay Gas Works | Sandy Lane, Hilgay | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Hockwold-cum-Wilton | Black Dyke Road, Hockwold | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Lime Kiln Road, Gayton | Lime Kiln Road, Gayton | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Manor Farm | Chequers Lane, North Runcton | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Former Morstons land at Nar Ouse Regeneration Area (NORA) | Wisbech Road, King's Lynn | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Rouses Lane, Downham Market | Rouses Lane, Downham Market | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Snettisham Quarry | Landfill, off the A149, Snettisham, King's Lynn | Not determined as contaminated land |
| South Farm | Downham Road, Runcton Holme | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Stow Road | Stow Road, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen, PE34 3BB | Not determined as contaminated land |
| St Nicholas Retail Park and Dobby Drive | St Nicholas Retail Park and Dobby Drive, King's Lynn | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Thorpeland House | Downham Road, Runcton Holme | Not determined as contaminated land |
| Watlington Road | Watlington Road, Runcton Holme | Not determined as contaminated land Site to be kept under review |
| Wisbech Canal | Elm High Road, Emneth to Wisbech Road, Outwell | Not determined as contaminated land |
Investigation report
To view further information about a particular site, please select from the dropdown below:
Blackborough End
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a quarry that was potentially used as a landfill.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The investigation showed that the quarry has not been landfilled and is used as a personal nature reserve, fishing lakes and shooting area.
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Broadend Road brickyard
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's an old brick and tile works. Part of the site was a refuse tip.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The site appears to have been excavated for brickmaking clay and then backfilled with waste material. The investigation showed that the site is not occupied at present and that there is no hazardous material visible at the site surface. The backfill material is assumed to be inert in nature.
The site in its current use is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health, property or controlled waters and is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Crimplesham Pit
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a quarry that has been used as a landfill.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The landfill is being backfilled with inert material in accordance with the site’s environmental permit.
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Dersingham Pit
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a quarry that has been used as a landfill.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site, a site visit and correspondence with Norfolk County Council. The site has been investigated by Norfolk County Council’s closed landfill team. A report has shown that contamination leaching from the landfill is having an adverse effect on Dersingham Fen. There is no evidence that human health or grazing cattle are being harmed. Natural England and the county council are working together to mitigate the impact on water and the environment.
As action is being taken we will not designate the land as contaminated land. However, we will keep this site under review.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Docking Common
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a quarry that was used as a landfill.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The investigation showed that the quarry was landfilled, and that the filling wasn’t controlled by a licence or permit. Investigation by Norfolk County Council in the area close to Docking Common has indicated that groundwater is not being adversely affected by pollution. There was no evidence of harm to human health or the wider environment.
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Downham Market former RAF site
We carried out a Part 2A inspection on this site. It was an RAF base from 1942 to 1946. The area we needed to look at first (Zone C) is now homes and public open space. When the applications were made for planning permission and when the houses were built, there was not a formal way for recording much information about the historical use of the land. We have retrieved information from our files and from old maps and plans for this report.
The airfield site was dismantled so that the land could be returned to the previous owners for agricultural use. The site clearance in Zone C is assumed to have been overseen by the RAF with any hazardous materials removed from site. No ground contamination was reported during construction of the residential area and no visible signs of contamination were observed during the site walkover. The site in its current use is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health, property or controlled waters and is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Fairfield Road Refuse Tip and Sewage Works, Downham Market
We carried out a Part 2A inspection on this site. In the past the land was part of Fairfield Road Refuse Tip and Sewage Works.
Historic Mapping Records show in 1939 the site was a Sewage Works with tanks on site. From 1946 as a refuse tip. The tip appears to have ceased by 1974. No other development is known on site and the site currently has grass cover with portions of the site raised up to 4m above ground level.
There was no evidence of harm to people or the natural environment. The risk assessment has shown that there is a low risk from contamination to people, property, to the wider environment and to water in ditches, streams and in the ground, and the land is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Feltwell Landfill
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a quarry that is being used as a landfill.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The investigation showed that the former quarry is a landfill operated by Anti-Waste Limited under an environmental permit.
The investigation showed that site is regulated by the Environment Agency and the land is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Former Oil Fields, Lynn Road, Setchey
We carried out a Part 2A inspection on this site. In the past the land was part of Setch Oil field before being filled and returned to grassland. The land is now used as a Church Meeting Hall.
A planning application was submitted in 2006 for the meeting hall. The application was supported by a report, investigating the history of the site and its ground conditions. We have retrieved the report and other information from old maps and plans for this contaminated land inspection report.
There was no evidence of harm to people or the natural environment. The risk assessment has shown that there is a low risk from contamination to people, property, to the wider environment and to water in ditches, streams and in the ground, and the land is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Gap Farm
We carried out a Part 2A inspection on this site. It was a farm, grassland and a clay pit which was used as a landfill. The land is now homes and public open space.
The site was investigated before and during development for housing. The planning permission included conditions requiring actions to make the land suitable for housing. Investigations were carried out by the developer’s consultants and a remediation scheme agreed with the borough council and the Environment Agency. As part of the works, the landfill material was removed from the housing area and clean material was brought in for garden areas. When the works were complete, the regulators 'signed off' the scheme.
At the time of the housing development there was not a formal way for recording on the public record that the work required by the conditions on planning permission had been done. Therefore, much of the information relating to the contaminated land investigation is on the borough council’s archive files. We have retrieved the information for this report.
The site in its current use is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health, property or controlled waters and is not contaminated land
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Gravel Hill
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. The land was used in the past to excavate oil shales.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site, a site visit and water sampling and laboratory analysis. A very low risk was identified for human health, controlled water and environmental receptors. The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the Gravel Hill contaminated land inspection report.
Hardings Pits
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's an old landfill that is now public open space.
Our investigation used documents about the site, including earlier investigations and a site visit. Our investigation showed that the landfill has been re-profiled and is now Hardings Pits doorstep green. Adjacent land is a surface water storage area.
We found that there was not a significant risk to:
- people using the site
- volunteer maintenance workers
- people eating wild blackberries that grow on the site
The investigation showed that the land is not contaminated land.
Further information
To find out more please view the following documents:
Heacham Brickworks (formerly)
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a clay pit and former brick works. The land is now partly a holiday caravan site and partly residential.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The brickworks was operated in the late 19th Century. We found no evidence that the clay pits had been landfilled and no visible evidence was found of brickmaking waste in residential gardens.
The site in its current use is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health, property or controlled waters, and is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Heacham Tip
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a chalk pit, part of which was used as a landfill. The land is now a household waste recycling depot, open space and a shooting ground for the 'Norfolk Wildfowlers' shooting club.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The landfill was operated by Docking Rural District Council in the 1950’s to 1990’s. The closed landfill team at Norfolk County Council have assessed the landfill and found that methane gas concentrations have reduced over time. A capping layer was placed across the fill.
The site in its current use is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health, property or controlled waters and is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Hilgay Gas Works
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It was a small country house gasworks in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
An investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. We took samples of soil and sent them for laboratory analysis. The investigation showed that there isn’t a significant risk to human health and the land is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Hockwold-cum-Wilton
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a chalk pit that was used as a landfill.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The investigation showed that the chalk pit was lined with inert waste material, comprising natural clay soils from a pipeline excavation. Planning permission was then granted which enabled the pit to be converted into a reservoir and fishing lake.
The investigation showed that there was no source of contamination and the land is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Lime Kiln Road Gayton
We carried out a Part 2A inspection on this site. It was a chalk quarry and lime kiln in the 1800’s and 1900’s. A small part of the land was reported to have been filled in the past. We have retrieved information from our files and from old maps and plans for this draft report.
From the available evidence, limited sources of contamination were identified. Except for the filled area, most of the site appears to have been levelled with rubble from nearby. No signs of ground contamination were observed during the site walkover. The site in its current use is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health, property or controlled waters and is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Manor Farm
We were involved in the response to a large fire at this illegal waste site. An assessment was carried out to see if there could be harm from the ash left from the fire. The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land. And it does not pose an immediate risk to human health, to water, property or the wider environment. A multi-agency group is deciding what will happen to the site in the future.
Further information
Copies of the investigation reports and some Frequently Asked Questions are below:
- Contaminated land non-technical summary
- Contaminated land investigation desk study and risk assessment report
- Contaminated land investigation report appendix C part one
- Contaminated land investigation report appendix C part two
- Contaminated land investigation report appendix C part three
- Contaminated land investigation report appendix E
- Appendix E addendum to planning history
- Contaminated land investigation FAQs
- Manor Farm contaminated land local residents letter
Nar Ouse Regeneration Area (NORA)
We initiated a part 2A investigation due to concerns that parts of the site, which were previously being remediated as part of the planning process, were no longer being actively managed.
We:
- carried out a desk top study of the known risks and concluded that further investigation was required
- an environmental site assessment was completed
- additional surface soil samples were taken
- a detailed quantitative risk assessment was completed
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land and does not pose an immediate risk to human health.
Further information
To find out more please view the following documents:
Rouses Lane, Downham Market
We carried out a Part 2A inspection on this site. It was sand pit that was filled with waste between 1988-1999. The land is currently used as a paddock for grazing horses.
A planning application was submitted in 2015 for houses. The application was supported by a report, investigating the history of the site and its ground conditions. We have retrieved the report and other information from old maps and plans for this contaminated land inspection report.
There was no evidence of harm to people or the natural environment, and the risk assessment has shown that there is a low risk from contamination to people, property, to the wider environment and to water in ditches, streams and in the ground and is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the documents below:
Snettisham Quarry
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a restored landfill, quarry and waste recycling centre.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The investigation showed that the site is an operational quarry and closed landfill. Part of the site is being operated by Frimstone as a waste recycling centre and mineral storage site under an environmental permit from the Environment Agency.
The site in its current use is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health, property or controlled waters and is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
South Farm
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site which is a field adjacent to fishing lakes and has been used in the past as a landfill. The landfill was potentially filled with phosphogypsum from the West Norfolk Fertiliser Limited who had the licence to operate the landfill. Phosphogypsum contains naturally occurring radioactive radium and metals.
Site investigation was undertaken using a radiation monitor. The levels of radiation detected were close to the recorded natural background levels of radiation. No evidence of waste material was noted at the site’s surface.
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land, and it does not pose an immediate risk to human health, to water or the wider environment.
Further information
You can find out further information in the contaminated land inspection report.
Stow Road
We carried out a Part 2A investigation on this site. It's former marshland which was reprofiled for construction of part of a railway embankment. The site was used as a landfill by Downham Rural District Council in the 1960s.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The site appears to have been filled with generally non-hazardous waste which has been in place for a minimum of 43 years. The land is managed and used as garden, paddock and rough grassland.
The site in its current use is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health, property or controlled waters and is not contaminated land.
Further information
You can find out further information in the contaminated land inspection report.
St Nicholas Retail Park and Dobby Drive
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site. It's a former ironworks that is now redeveloped for retail and housing.
Investigation was undertaken using documents about the site and a site visit. The investigation showed when the site was re-developed it was remediated to take account of any contamination left by the former industrial use.
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land.
Further information
To find out more, please view the following documents:
Thorpeland House
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site which is a paddock used for grazing. In the past the site was filled, potentially with phosphogypsum from West Norfolk Fertiliser Limited who held the licence to operate a landfill. Phosphogypsum contains naturally occurring radioactive radium and metals.
Site investigation was undertaken using a radiation monitor. The levels of radiation detected were close to the recorded natural background levels of radiation. No evidence of waste material was noted at the sites surface.
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land, and it does not pose an immediate risk to human health, to water or the wider environment.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Watlington Road
We carried out a part 2A investigation on this site which is an arable field and has been used in the past as a landfill. The land was an old gravel pit which was potentially filled with phosphogypsum from the West Norfolk Fertiliser Limited and soil. Phosphogypsum contains naturally occurring radioactive radium and metals.
Site investigation was undertaken using a radiation monitor. The levels of radiation detected were close to the recorded natural background levels of radiation. There were no significant amounts of waste material seen at the site’s surface.
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land, and it does not pose an immediate risk to human health, to water or the wider environment. If large amounts of waste material appear at the soil surface then we will review this assessment.
Further information
You can find out more information in the document below:
Wisbech Canal
We have investigated the former Wisbech Canal landfill site. We checked if any contamination was created when the canal was closed and the land was in-filled with refuse.
We:
- reviewed the history of the canal and its environment
- carried out a walkover survey
- produced a non technical summary
- carried out an intrusive investigation to see if contamination is present, and if it could affect people or property nearby
The investigation showed that the land was not contaminated land, and it does not pose an immediate risk to human health.
Further information
To find out more please view the following documents: