Contaminated land funding cut by 80%

Last year the initial budget was £17.5 million for local authorities and £2.44 million for the Environment Agency.

The budget was then cut to £10 million for local authorities and £1.9 million for the Environment Agency.

Totalled up, this represents and overall reduction of over 78% in less than 12 months.

Last year the budget was over-subscribed so it is likely that the budget for this year will fall short of what is needed.

The programme is run by the Environment Agency to help local authorities in England cover the cost off investigating and remediating contaminated land.

The bid window runs from 8 April to 27 May.

Wales no longer has funding under the programme after the Welsh Assembly Government cut the funding in December 2010.

Alison Brown