---
title: "Insight User Guide: Current industrial land use"
description: Information on the dataset used within the Current industrial land use section of the Enviro Insight report
---
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June 30, 2025
# Insight User Guide: Current industrial land use
Update 10th April 2025: Please note that the Environment Agency are currently not updating their data based on the update schedules below due to resource constraints. We are monitoring this situation closely.
### **Recent industrial land uses**
Current potentially contaminative industrial sites sourced from Ordnance Survey. The data will provide information on the type of activity undertaken. Groundsure has analysed this data and selected specific sites for inclusion dependent on the potential for contaminative activities to have taken place.
Data source: Ordnance Survey
Data update schedule: Quarterly
From 30th June 2025, the recent industrial land uses dataset no longer includes tanks. This information has been replaced with National Geographic Database - Current or recent tanks
### **National Geographic Database (NGD) - Current or recent tanks**
The tanks listed in this dataset have been identified from recent and current National Geographic Data from the Ordnance Survey. The data includes, where possible, the specific location of the tank, its description/use and the date is was first identified.
Data source: Ordnance Survey
Data update schedule: Monthly
### **Current or recent petrol stations**
Open, closed, under development and obsolete petrol stations taken from the Catalist dataset. The classifications are broken down as shown below:
| **Status** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| Not surveyed | No further information is yet available on this site and a site survey is required. |
| Open | Site is currently operating. |
| Under development | Site is closed for development or redevelopment and there is evidence to suggest that construction work is in progress. |
| Closed | Site is not retailing petrol, however the canopy and pumps are still present. |
| Out of industry | Site is not retailing petrol and likely to be in other use such as car sales. |
| Obsolete | Site is not retailing petrol, and has been redeveloped for alternative use (flats, offices etc.). |
Data Source: Experian
Data update schedule: Quarterly
### **Electricity Cables**
High voltage underground electricity transmission cables running between generating power plants and electricity substations. These relate to electricity transmission only and not local distribution networks. The data includes information on operating voltages, year of installation and cable construction. The absence of data in this section should not be used as a confirmation that no other underground cables are present at a site, and a practitioner should obtain a full Utility Search prior to any groundworks at a site. These may be ordered through Groundsure or through your preferred provider.
Data source: National Grid
Data update schedule: Annually
### **Gas pipelines**
Identifies high pressure, large diameter pipelines which carry gas between gas terminals, power stations, compressors and storage facilities. These relate to national transmission only and do not relate to local gas distribution networks. The absence of data in this section should not be used as a confirmation that no other underground pipelines are present at a site, and a practitioner should obtain a full Utility Search prior to any groundworks at a site. These may be ordered through Groundsure or through your preferred provider.
Data source: National Grid
Data update schedule: Annually
### **Sites determined as Contaminated Land (EPA 1990)**
These sites have been determined as contaminated land under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This database also includes sites listed as “potentially contaminated land” where Groundsure have information that these are either currently being investigated or the likelihood of them being investigated under Part 2A is considered high.
Data source: Local Authority records
Data update schedule: Quarterly
### **Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH)**
Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) sites. This data includes upper and lower tier sites, and includes a historical archive of COMAH sites and Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances (NIHHS) records. The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) implement the requirements of the COMAH Directive (1996) and are also cross-referenced in the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2015.
Data source: The Health and Safety Executive
Data update schedule: Annually
### **Regulated explosive sites**
Sites registered and licensed by the Health and Safety Executive under the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (MSER). This data is no longer updated by the provider and represents an archive last updated in April 2011.
Data Source: The Health and Safety Executive
Data update schedule: Static
### **Hazardous substance storage/usage**
Consents granted for a site to hold certain quantities of hazardous substances at or above defined limits in accordance with the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2015.
Data source: The Health and Safety Executive
Data update schedule: Annually
### **Historical licensed industrial activities (IPC)**
Discharges of trade or sewage effluent into rivers, lakes or coastal waters requires consent from the Environment Agency, which specifies the volume, nature and composition of the discharge. They include Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) records of substance releases to air, land and water. This data represents a historical archive as the IPC regime has been superseded.
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data update schedule: Static (last updated in 2008)
### **Part A(1), IPPC and Historic IPC Authorisations (Scotland only)**
Records of Part A installations regulated for the release of substances to the environment sourced from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Data source: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Data update schedule: Static
### **Current or licensed industrial activities (Part A(1))**
Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales records of Part A(1) installations regulated under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 for the release of substances to the environment. Guidance on which facilities are regulated under Part A(1) can be found [**here**](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/794946/LIT_6529.pdf).
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data update schedule EA: Every 6 months
Data update schedule NRW: Quarterly
### **Licensed pollutant release (Part A(2) or Part B)**
Local Authority records of Part A(2) and Part B installations regulated under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 for the release of substances to the environment. Part A(2) permits are required for the following activities:
- Refining gas
- Metal works, eg producing pig iron or steel, casting ferrous metal, operating forge hammers or Applying fused metal coatings
- Melting non-ferrous metals
- Surface treating metals and plastic materials
- Grinding cement clinker or metallurgical slag
- Glass manufacturing
- Cellulose fibre reinforced calcium silicate board manufacturing
- Ceramic product manufacturing, including roof tiles and bricks
- Non-hazardous or animal waste incineration
- Manufacturing wood based boards, eg plywood
- New tyre manufacturing
- Disposing of or recycling animal carcasses or waste Part B permits are required for emissions to air.
Please note this dataset does not include permits for mobile installations.
Data source: Local Authority records
Data update schedule: Annually and Variable
### **Part B Authorisations (Scotland only)**
Records of Part B installations regulated for the release of substances to air sourced from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Data source: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Data update schedule: Static
### **Radioactive Substance Authorisations**
Records of the storage, use, accumulation and disposal of radioactive substances regulated by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. They relate to licences granted under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. This Act controls the storage, use and disposal of radioactive substances. RAS sites are divided into four categories depending upon the potential risk to the public:
| **Site category** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| RAS1 | Large nuclear installations that both store and re-process nuclear fuels on site e.g. Sellafield |
| RAS2 | Large nuclear installations that both store and process nuclear fuels on site e.g. nuclear power stations |
| RAS3 | Registered sites that are authorised to accumulate and dispose of radioactive materials. Only non-nuclear operations are carried out on site e.g. hospitals |
| RAS4 | Registered sites that keep and use radioactive material e.g. mobile laboratories and plants. Only non-nuclear operations are carried out on site |
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data scheduling: Quarterly
### **Licensed Discharges to controlled waters**
Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales records of discharges of treated or untreated effluent to controlled waters under the Water Resources Act 1991.
An environmental permit is required for the discharge of liquid effluent or waste water (poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, waste matter, or trade or sewage effluent):
- Into surface waters, for example, rivers, streams, estuaries, lakes, canals or coastal waters (known as water discharge activities)
- Onto or into the ground, for example, land spreading waste sheep dip, or discharging treated sewage effluent to ground via an infiltration system (known as groundwater activities).
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data update schedule: Quarterly
### **Pollutant release to surface waters (Red List)**
Discharges of specified substances under the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991 to air, land or water. Such substances include large heavy industrial processing and manufacturing plants and large sewage treatment works. Under the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991, sites discharging certain substances regarded as exceptionally toxic, persistent or bio-accumulative, must hold consents to discharge under these Regulations. The Regulations provide a full listing of the substances in question, identified as Red List substances. Such discharge consents will set absolute limits for discharges and detail other factors such as provision of facilities for sampling and monitoring. Consents aim to ensure that the stringent SWQS provided under The Surface Waters (Dangerous Substances) (Classification) Regulations 1989 (as amended) are met.
The following substances constitute the Red List:
| Cadmium & compounds | Endrin |
| --- | --- |
| Mercury & compounds | Endosulfan I & II (total) |
| Tributyl Tin Compounds | Trifluralin |
| Triphenyl Tin compounds | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) each of 7 congeners |
| 1,2 Dichlorethane | Dichlorvos |
| 1,2,4 Trichlorobenzene (each congener) | Fenitrothion |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Azinphos-methyl |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH or Lindane) | Malathion |
| Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) | Atrazine |
| DDT isomers | Simazine |
| Aldrin | Pentachlorophenol & compounds (PCPs) |
| Dieldrin | |
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data update schedule EA: Static (last updated in 2019)
Data update schedule NRW: Quarterly
### **Pollutant release to public sewer**
These are trade effluents that discharge to the public sewer and contain particular substances, or derive from specific processes. They include Red List substances, effluents from the production of chlorinated organic chemicals, effluents from paper board and pulp processes into public sewers.
The Referrals of Red List Discharges to Sewers (Corporate Entities) dataset holds the details of all organisations, who have made an application to a sewerage undertaker for permission to release a Red List Substance into a public sewer under section 120 of the Water Industry Act 1991.
The term Red List refers to 23 of the most dangerous substances which were listed under the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991. These substances were selected for priority control under the Integrated Pollution Control legislation (IPC) – subsequently superseded by the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) and then the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR).
The Water Industry Act 1991 directs sewerage undertakers who have received a notice containing an application for consent to discharge special category trade effluent from a trade premises into a public sewer, to refer to the Environment Agency the questions:
- Whether the discharges to which the notice relates should be prohibited
- Whether, if they are not prohibited, any requirements should be imposed as to the conditions on which they are made.
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data update schedule: Static (last updated in 2018)
### **List 1 Dangerous Substances**
Discharges of exceptionally toxic, persistent or bio-accumulative substances identified on List 1 of European Directive E 2006/11/EC, and regulated under the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations. List 1 substances have the potential to cause the most harm to aquatic life due to their persistence, toxicity or bioaccumulation. The following substances are classified under List 1 by the Environment Agency:
| Mercury (other) | Chloroform |
| --- | --- |
| Cadmium | 1,2-dichloroethane |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane | Trichlorethylene |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Perchlorethylene |
| Para-para-DDT | Trichlorobenzene |
| Pentachlorophenol | Total DDT |
| Aldrin | Total “drins” |
| Dieldrin (other) | Mercury (chloralkali) |
| Endrin | Hexachlorobenzene |
| Isodrin | Hexachlorobutadiene |
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data update schedule: Static (last updated in 2011)
### **List 2 Dangerous Substances**
Discharges of substances identified on List 2 of European Directive E 2006/11/EC, and regulated under the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2015. The following substances are classified under List 2 by the Environment Agency:
| Arsenic | Azinphos-methyl | Napthalene |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Boron | Endosulphan | Omethoate |
| Chromium | Fenitrothion | Toluene |
| Copper | Malathion | Trizaphos |
| Cyanide | Trifluralin | Xylene |
| Cyfluthrin | 4-Chloro-3-methyl-phenol | Organotin |
| Dichlorvos | 2-Chlorophenol | Metals |
| Eulan (PCDS) | 2,4-Dichlorophenol | Organohalogens |
| Flucofuron | 2,4-D(ester) | Chlorinated hydrocarbons |
| Iron | 2,4-D(non-ester) | Total metals (dissolved) |
| Lead | 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | Total metals (total) |
| Nickel | 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | Total metals (non-ferrous) |
| Permethrin | Bentazone | Xylene (m+p) |
| PH | Benzene | Xylene (o) |
| Silver | Biphenyl | Agrochemicals |
| Sulcofuron | Chloronitrotoluenes | Phenol |
| Tributyltin | Demeton | Total pesticides |
| Triphenyltin | Dimethoate | In addition to “All new List 2 substances” |
| Vanadium | Linuron | Mecoprop |
| Zinc | MCPA | Mevinphos |
| Atrazine & Simazine | | |
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data update schedule: Static (last updated in 2012)
### **Pollution Incidents (EA)**
Records of substantiated pollution incidents. Since 2006 this data has only included category 1 (major) and 2 (significant) pollution incidents. Pollution incidents within this dataset are those that have been brought to the attention of the Environment Agency and may have an environmental and/or operation impact. They are recorded as either a breach of a permit, licence or consent or to an incident at an unregulated site. Each incident has a discrete impact rating for air, water and land.
| **Incident category** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| Category 1 (major) | Persistent effect on water quality, closure of abstraction point, extensive fish mortality, excessive breaches of consent conditions, significant effect on amenity value or conservation. |
| Category 2 (significant) | Potential or actual effect on water quality, notification to water abstractors, significant fish mortality, water unfit for stock watering, bed of watercourse contaminated, reduction in amenity value. |
| Category 3 (minor) | Low fish mortality, bed of watercourse only locally contaminated around point of discharge, minimal impact and amenity only marginally affected. |
| Category 4 (unsubstantiated) | Reported incident, upon investigation no evidence can be found of incident having occurred. |
Data source: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
Data update schedule: Quarterly
### **Pollution Inventory (substances)**
The Pollution Inventory (substances) includes reporting on annual emissions of certain regulated substances to air, controlled waters and land. It gives details of releases and transfers of substances from industrial activities they regulate, including the annual emission of certain substances to air, controlled waters and land, and off-site transfer in wastewater and waste. The data is given for the most recent complete year available.
A reporting threshold for each substance is also included. Where emissions fall below the reporting threshold, no value will be given.
A site must report to the Pollution Inventory if they:
Operate under a Part A(1) environmental permit and have received a notice under Regulation 60 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010
Operate a sewage treatment works with a capacity at, or over, 100,000 population equivalents
Dispose of radioactive waste to air, water or sewers covered by a permit issued under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010
Run an opencast mine or quarry with a surface area over 25 hectares, or an underground mine and related operation (no capacity threshold).
Data source: Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Data update schedule: Quarterly
### **Pollution Inventory (waste transfers)**
The Pollution Inventory (waste transfers) includes reporting on annual transfers and recovery/disposal of controlled wastes from a site. A reporting threshold for each waste type is also included. Where releases fall below the reporting threshold, no value will be given. The data is given for the most recent complete year available.
Data source: Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Data update schedule: Quarterly
### **Pollution Inventory (radioactive wastes)**
The Pollution Inventory (radioactive wastes) includes reporting on annual releases of radioactive substances from a site, including the means of release. Where releases fall below the reporting threshold, no value will be given. The data is given for the most recent complete year available.
Data source: Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Data update schedule: Quarterly
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