There is no single source of information available which indicates the extent of contaminated land in Scotland. This is a reflection of the fact that the term "contaminated" may take on a different meaning in different circumstances: for example, contaminated land may be land posing a risk, land which has chemicals on it or even land which is suspected to be contaminated. There are various sources of information which may be used to provide an indication of the extent of contaminated land in Scotland.

To date eleven contaminated land sites have been identified in Scotland. Eight of these sites have been identified on the basis of water pollution alone, two of the sites have been identified due to risks to human health alone and one has been identified due to risks to both human health and the water environment. Two special sites have been designated, and SEPA is the regulator for these sites.

Information accurate as at February 2008.

Click here to find brief information about the special sites designated in Scotland, and containing details of the office location where the Public Register entry for each case may be viewed.

Public registers established under Part llA
Part llA State of Contaminated Land Report
Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (SVDLS)
State of the Environment: Scotlands Soil Resource
Report on the current state and threats to Scotland's soil resources (Scottish Executive Research report, 2006)