Urban TaskForce chair Richard Rogers has criticised the government for failing to set firm targets for cleaning up contaminated land.
Lord Rogers, speaking at the launch of the urban taskforce's Land Condition Record, a list of information on contaminated sites, said it was disappointing that the urban white paper did not adopt taskforce recommendations on simplifying regulations for cleaning up brownfield sites.
Lord Rogers claimed that it was unrealistic to expect developers to invest in land if they did not know what lay beneath the surface.
He said: "We would like to see all contaminated land brought back into use by 2030. Some 200 000 ha of land in Britain is in some way contaminated, an area the size of greater London. The Land Condition Record turns this land into a resource and gives developers the confidence to regenerate our inner cities. We are looking for action from the government on this issue."
