Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has of(a) previous land use, (b) contaminants present, (c) clean-up work completed and (d) health risks present regarding the site of his Department's offices at Marsham street; and how he came by this information.
§ Mr. BaldryBefore the existing buildings were constructed in the 1960s, the site was occupied by a 417W mixture of domestic and commercial users, the largest of which was a coal gas works. Consultants have advised that the site's previous use as a gas works may have led to some soil contamination. However, much of the contamination in the soil is likely to have been removed when the deep basements of the current building were evacuated. The building fabric itself protects the current occupants from any risks of contamination. This information is based on advice from consultants looking at the planning and development potential of the 2 Marsham street site.