Extent of contamination on former Lec site
A detailed report with the application shows the amount of contamination of the ground which is a legacy of the previous manufacturing.
Among the substances under ground are coal tar and hydrocarbon contaminants, heavy metals, cyanide, sulphate and chloride. Some of these date from a gasworks on the site's southern portion between 1913 and 1958 before Lec bought the land.
The nearby presence of the Aldingbourne and Lidsey Rifes means the land has a one in 100-year risk of being flooded.
Any new buildings allowed by councillors will have a floor level built above the expected height of any flooding to limit the potential for damage.