Buying dream house - but on ex-landfill???

steve_hurst_2

Hi folks,

The environmental search provider will not provide the certificate to say the property is not on contaminated land. The site was used from 1950s-1982 as landfill waste for ceramics such as clays, crockery etc. (Wedgewood factory not far away).

There is no evidence of any contaminated land yet they say they can't be certain so that's why there is no certificate.

I've done a fair bit of research and my heart says there isn't really a problem with this land and I would be very happy to live there...however...what when I come to sell??????

Please advise...buy or walk away?

Thanks for reading.

Steve

rsykes2000

Walk away. You have foreseen the possible problems when you come to sell it, it could lead to untold stress.

roseland69

Read the wiki article on pottery making. Phrases that stand out in the artcile on things used in the pottery making, colouring and glazing process:

"Colorants, usually metal oxides and carbonates"

Gold: Decoration with gold is used on some high quality ware. Different methods exist for its application, including:
Best gold - a suspension of gold powder in essential oils mixed with a flux and a mercury salt extended. This can be applied by a painting technique. From the kiln the decoration is dull and requires burnishing to reveal the full color
Acid Gold – a form of gold decoration developed in the early 1860s at the English factory of Mintons Ltd, Stoke-on-Trent. The glazed surface is etched with diluted hydrofluoric acid prior to application of the gold. The process demands great skill and is used for the decoration only of ware of the highest class.
Bright Gold – consists of a solution of gold sulphoresinate together with other metal resonates and a flux. The name derives from the appearance of the decoration immediately after removal from the kiln as it requires no burnishing
Mussel Gold – an old method of gold decoration. It was made by rubbing together gold leaf, sugar and salt, followed by washing to remove solubles

Materials other than salt are also used to glaze wares in the kiln, including sulfur.

Environmental issues in production

Although many of the environmental effects of pottery production have existed for millennia, some of these have been amplified with modern technology and scales of production. The principal factors for consideration fall into two categories: (a] effects on workers and (b) effects on the general environment. Within the effects on workers, chief impacts are indoor air quality, sound levels and possible over-illumination. Regarding the general environment, factors of interest are off-site water pollution, air pollution and disposal of hazardous materials.
Historically plumbism, lead poisoning, was a significant health concern to those glazing pottery. This was recognised at least as early as the nineteenth century, and the first legislation in the United Kingdom to limit pottery workers’ exposure was introduced in 1899. [12] Whilst the risk of to those working in ceramics is now much reduced it can still not be ignored. With respect to indoor air quality, workers can be exposed to fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide and certain heavy metals. The greatest health risk is the potential to develop silicosis from the long-term exposure to crystalline silica. Proper ventilation can reduce the risks, and the first legislation in the United Kingdom to govern ventilation was introduced in 1899. [12]. Another, more recent study at Laney College, Oakland, California suggests that all these factors can be controlled in a well designed workshop environment.[13]
The use of energy and pollutants in the production of ceramics is a growing concern. Electric firing is arguably more environmentally friendly than combustion firing, although the source of the electricity varies in environmental impact.[citation needed]

Do you realling want to possibly live over lead, mercury, sulfur and acid?

ILW

If its selling for about £5,000 it would be worth it. Only buy for an amount you can afford to lose. You may never be able to sell.

NOVASTAR

Just written a long reply and lost it!!!

Anyway in a nutshell - this happened to us and we know the area well and went ahead with the purchase. The methane levels are checked every 2 weeks and are so low that not really worrying about.
We now overlook fields of tal grasses, trees, bunnies and dog wakers.
Our Solicitor also mentioned about the resale to people out of the area but as we know the history of the area it didn't put us off!

NOVASTAR

Oh and our next door neighbours who have lived in the property since new (15 years) look pretty normal - they have not sprouted a second head or look abnormal in any way!

steve_hurst_2

^ bump

Thanks to all who replied...any more views?

chickmug

steve_hurst wrote: »

^ bump

Thanks to all who replied...any more views?

Like any other similar thing such as pylons, etc - if it worries you now, about buying, it will worry a large number of potential buyers if you come to sell it.

It will affect the saleabilty, unless a booming market, and will have a theoretical affect on the value. In a poor market many will say NO and look at the others on the market or you may be expected/asked to suffer a lower offer than otherwise.

If there is a price incentive that you can pass on, in the future, if you need to sell why not as it doesn't sound as bad as the pylons scenario.