Environmental Round Up

In this article, Aidan Thomson (a partner in our Environment Group) examines some key environmental law developments and the effect that they will have on businesses in the coming months and years.

Environmental law continues to become more strict. As it does so, compliance costs incurred by business increase. This article highlights three important environmental law developments which will increase compliance costs across a broad range of UK businesses.

The Environment Act 1995 introduced the UK Contaminated Land Regime (the "Regime") aimed at cleaning up sites that have been contaminated by past pollution. The Regime was brought into force in April 2000.

Liability under the regime falls on the person that "caused or knowingly permitted" the contamination in question. Where these persons cannot be found, liability can fall on the innocent owner or occupier of contaminated land.