Asbestos Solution Essential for Federal Mogul Site Development

Date published: 06/09/2004

A permanent solution to the problem of contamination on the former Federal Mogul site in Rochdale will be required as part of any planning application, Rochdale Council has confirmed.

The former Federal Mogul site off Rooley Moor Road has been in industrial use for many years. The potential for contamination on the site is acknowledged in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) which states that "any development must provide a permanent solution to the contamination on the whole site through remedial works and, if necessary, through the future management of the site".

As part of any application to develop the site, the developers are required to commission independent environmental consultants to determine the nature and extent of any contamination.

The developers will then be required to undertake any remedial works needed to ensure that the site will be fit for its intended purpose, and validate the effectiveness of the works on completion.

If any future management of the scheme is required, legal agreements may be used to ensure it is provided.

Rochdale Council is expecting a report on the potential contamination to be included as part of the full Environmental Assessment that will accompany the planning application.

The site investigations undertaken and any remedial strategies proposed will be reviewed by the Council, who may use independent environmental consultants to help determine whether they are adequate.

Any documentation submitted in support of a planning application will be placed on the relevant planning file and will therefore be in available to the public.

The developers are aware of the requirements relating to contamination and preliminary site investigations have already begun.

The issue of potential flooding at the site has been raised. Risks from flooding are the remit of the Environment Agency and are routinely addressed as part of the planning process. Further information on flood risks is available on the Environment Agency web site - www.environment-agency.gov.uk

A planning application is expected in the near future.