Revised regulations to simplify the development of contaminated land should be approved and come into force on 6 April.  New statutory guidance will be issued, designed to reduce uncertainty over what constitutes contaminated land.  A four category test has been developed to clarify when land does and does not need to be remediated.  Efforts should be focused on high risk sites and at accelerating decision-making by helping local authorities dismiss low risk sites more easily.

See  www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/land/