Consultation on a draft Code of Practice for the sustainable use of soils on construction sites

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Soils Policy Team
Environmental Land Management Division
Area 3C, Nobel House,
London, SW1P 3JR
Telephone: 020 7238 6363
Website: www.defra.gov.uk

28 July 2008

Dear Consultee,

Consultation on a draft Code of Practice for the sustainable use of soils on construction sites

  1. I am writing to invite your views on a draft Code of Practice for the sustainable use of soils on construction sites, as well as the accompanying Impact Assessment of these proposals.

  2. The following documents relating to this consultation may be found on the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/sustainable-soil-construction:
    Consultation letter
    List of consultees
    Draft Code of Practice for the sustainable use of soils on construction sites
    Associated resources
    Government’s consultation stage Impact Assessment

  3. The list of consultees provides details of those organisations to whom notification of this consultation has been emailed. Please inform us if you know of others who may wish to be involved in this consultation process.

  4. We welcome your views and comments on this proposal. This is primarily an electronic consultation, but if you need Defra to print out and send you a copy of the consultation documents, please contact:

    Rebecca Taylor
    Soils Policy Team,
    Defra, 3C Nobel House,
    London, SW1P 3JR.
    CCOPsoil.consultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk (020 7238 6419)
What consultees are invited to do

  1. You are welcome to comment on all aspects of the draft Code and Impact Assessment but there are some specific issues on which we would particularly value your input.

  2. In particular, your views are sought on the following questions. When you respond it would be helpful if you could clearly indicate the question to which your answer relates. Where possible please provide explanation and examples to support your comments.

    1. Content of the draft Code:
      1. Do you think the draft Code demands a suitable level of protection for soils or is it too high to be achievable or too low to have a significant impact?
      2. Does the practice recommended by the draft Code reflect best practice in the industry?
    2. Use of the draft Code:
      1. Do you think the draft Code achieves its objective of being a practical user-friendly guide for use in the construction industry?
      2. Is there any information included in the draft Code which could be presented in a more suitable and easy-to-use manner?
      3. Do you think any further terms should be defined in the glossary
    3. Impact Assessment:
      1. Do you agree with the analysis outlined in the Impact Assessment?
      2. In your view, to what extent is good soil management as recommended by the draft Code currently practiced by the construction industry?
      3. In your view, what are the key information gaps in respect of the sustainable use of soils on construction sites? Does the draft Code address these information failures adequately?
      4. Do you have any further evidence to contribute to the Impact Assessment?
Responses

  1. Please send your responses by email to: CCOPsoil.consultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
    Alternatively, responses can be sent by post to:

    Rebecca Taylor
    Defra
    Soils Policy Team
    Area 3C, Nobel House
    17 Smith Square
    London, SW1P 3JR
    Tel: 020 7238 6419.

  2. Responses should be received by 20 October 2008.

Publication of responses

  1. In line with Defra's policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period copies of the responses we receive will be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. The information they contain will also be published in a summary of responses.

  2. If you do not consent to this, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in email responses will not be treated as such a request. You should also be aware that there may be circumstances in which Defra and the devolved administrations will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2004, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

  3. This consultation has been produced in accordance with the Better Regulation Executive Guidance on consultation.

  4. The Defra Information Resource Centre will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or e-mail requests (tel: 020 7238 6575, email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Wherever possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours' notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs.

  5. A summary of responses will also be made available on Defra’s website at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/sustainable-soil-construction.

  6. If you have any comments or complaints about the consultation process, as opposed to about the issue in the consultation paper, please address them to:

    Defra Consultation Co-ordinator
    Area 7C Nobel House
    17 Smith Square
    London SW1P 3JR
    Email: consultation.coordinator@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

  7. Thank you for your help in this matter. If you have any queries please contact us as above.

Yours sincerely,

Maya de Souza
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Page published: 28 July 2008