1:50,000 Solid Geology

Surface geology of the region, known as drift, showing the position and the general character of all geological materials that occur at ground level. Solid rock concealed beneath the drift is known as solid geology.

 

Natural Subsidence

Natural Subsidence is the lateral and downward movement of the ground and is caused by a number of geological and environmental factors.

Such movements are typically in the order of a few centimetres but in exceptional circumstances can be larger.

This Natural Subsidence has the potential to cause subsidence damage to buildings and structures.

The level of significance is expressed on a scale of A to E (A being LOW and E being HIGH)

 

Borehole Index

Records of boreholes that are catalogued for the whole of Great Britain, including a reference number and drilled length. Boreholes have been used for mineral or hydrocarbon exploration, water extraction and monitoring (e.g. for site investigations).

Mines, Quarries and Shallow Mining

Indicates whether a property is in a coal mining area, in an area in which coal bearing strata are known or expected to be present and if quarrying / mineral extraction activity is being carried out.

Radon Protection Measures

Measures required for new properties / extensions to existing ones under building regulation BR211, particularly in areas where the level of radon is above the action level defined by the NRPB.

National Parks

Areas designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The purpose of the designation is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage, with opportunities for recreation.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Areas designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, as amended by the Countryside Act 1968, Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Environment Act 1995. The purpose of AONBs is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape, through planning controls and appropriate management.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Sites notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. SSSIs represent the best sites for wildlife and geology, where English Nature is responsible for identifying and protecting these sites.

National Nature Reserves

Sites are designated under Section 19 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or Section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, by English Nature. NNRs were established to protect the most important areas of wildlife habitat and geological formations in Britain, and as places for scientific research.

RAMSAR Sites

Designated in accordance with the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance 1971 (commonly referred to as the RAMSARConvention). This provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation, management and wise use of wetlands and their resources, especially as Waterfowl habitat.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

These are zones where nitrate concentrations in sources of public drinking water exceed or are likely to exceed the EC Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) limit of 50mg/l. In such areas, there is a mandatory annual limit of 210kg/ha of organic manure, reducing to 170kg/ha after 4years, imposed by DEFRA for the purposes of the EC Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC.

Nitrate Sensitive Areas

These are areas where nitrate levels in sources of public drinking water exceed, or are at risk of exceeding, 50mg/l.

The Scheme was introduced under the EC Agri-Environment Regulations 1994. This voluntary Scheme compensates farmers for significantly changing their farming practices to help protect valuable supplies of drinking water

Environmentally Sensitive Areas

Areas of high environmental value designated under Section 18 of the Agricultural Act of 1986, within which farmers are encouraged to respect the environment by the adoption of certain agricultural practices.

Abstractions Licences

Issued by the Environment Agency in accordance with the Water Resources Act 1963 and 1991. The EA has a duty to take action when necessary to conserve, redistribute or increase water resources and to secure its proper use.

Discharge Consents

Authorisations issued by the Environment Agency (and its predecessor the National Rivers Authority) to discharge to the water course from non-IPC processes in accordance with Section 84 (1) Water Resources Act 1991 (as amended by the Environment Act 1995).

Dangerous Substances

Consents are issued by the Environment Agency in accordance with Dangerous Substances Directive (76/464/EEC).
List I substances are the most toxic / persistent, or may tend to accumulate in the environment, and pollution is reduced by eliminating their discharge. List II substances are thought to be less harmful and discharges of these to the environment should be restricted.

Hazardous Substance Consents

Sites subject to consent granted by the relevant local authority under the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990

Radioactive Consents

Sites registered by the Environment Agency under Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to keep, use or dispose of radioactive substances.

IPC Authorisations

Sites authorised by the Environment Agency under Part I Environmental Protection Act 1990 to carry out processes subject to Integrated Pollution Control. Relates to sites emitting discharges direct to land, water and air. Processes include fuel production, waste treatment and chemical production.

Pollution Inventory

Provides information on annual mass releases of specific substances to air, water, land or produced as waste, which arise from IPC Authorisations (Part A Processes), including point sources, diffuse sources and fugitive emissions.

Pollution Incidents

The National Incident Reporting System is currently undergoing restructuring and therefore, data may not be available for all regions at present. There are data protection issues which need to be resolved and all data held on this system falls outside of the Public Registers. It is hoped that this situation will be resolved in the near future.

Prohibitions & Enforcements

Sites relating to IPC authorised processes that have been subject to prohibition / enforcement action (including licence revocation proceedings) by the Environment Agency under the criminal / regulatory provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The National Enforcement Database is primarily for Agency internal use only and there are concerns over compliance with the Data Protection Act. It is hoped that this issue will be resolved in the near future.

River Quality Assessment

A river or designated water course where the quality of the water is monitored by the Environment Agency. Currently, only the chemical and biological components of the General Quality Assessment Scheme have been fully implemented.

“Chemical Quality”

Grades rivers class A-F (representing very good to bad quality) on the basis of the concentrations of BOD, ammonia and the dissolved oxygen in the rivers.

“Biological Quality”

Based on the monitoring of benthic macro-invertebrates (organisms living on the river bed). Each particular species thrives best under a narrow range of environmental conditions. Therefore, biological quality of a river will reflect the extent to which the river is affected by environmental stresses, including pollution from the whole range of chemicals.

Indicative Floodplains

Provide a general overview of areas of land in natural floodplains and therefore potentially at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. These maps are based upon historical flood records, survey records and computer models, however, they do not show flood defences. Where applicable, the maps indicate the extent of flooding for a 1% chance of flooding each year.

Groundwater Vulnerability

Information regarding the location of sensitive water resources, soil class and the presence of drift deposits. Groundwater vulnerability is designated by the Environment Agency.

Pesticides and Trace Organics

A pesticide is defined under the Food and Environment Protection Act (1985) as “any substance, preparation or organism prepared or used for destroying any pest”. The monitoring programme is strongly governed by statutory requirements to monitor concentrations of the pesticides Parathion, g-HCH and Dieldrin in water, sediment and biota.

Radon Risk

Indicates whether a property is in a radon-affected area as defined by the NRPB and if so what percentage of properties are above the action level.

Landfill Survey

Current landfill licensed by the Environment Agency under Part II Environmental Protection Act 1990 and analysis of OS mapping dating back to mid-19 th century.

Fuel Sites

Locations of fuel stations within the vicinity. The data set includes information on the status of the site, whether it is active and the brand of petrol sold.

Waste Treatment Sites

Waste management facilities licensed by the Environment Agency under the Control of Pollution Act (COPA) 1974 and Section 36 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to treat, keep or dispose of controlled waste.