Contaminated land case study - Tottenham Hale, London

The Ferry Lane estate in Tottenham Hale, formerly the site of the Harris Lebus furniture factory, has been given the all clear following a lengthy investigation by Haringey Council into possible land contamination caused by industrial waste.

At the beginning of the last century the area was home to one of London's biggest timber factories. At the time it was reputed to be the largest furniture factory in the world and it was also used to make aircraft wings and fuselages during the First and Second World Wars, before making way for a housing estate that was developed on the site in the 1970's.

The council has carried out an 18-month survey on the site as a result of legislation requiring local authorities to investigate land within their boundaries for land contamination. To the relief of residents, the results of the study have revealed no long-term contamination.

A member of the Ferry Lane Action Group explained the problems residents have been living with for the past year and a half: "People have experienced problems in selling their properties sometimes, the houses that were owner occupied and some of the flats, because potential contamination is one of the things that gets flagged up."

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