The Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss a report on Launders Lane (Arnold's Field). The sub-committee will scrutinise the report and agree on any recommendations for the Overview and Scrutiny Board to consider for referral to the Cabinet for response. The sub-committee has invited the public, local residents and outside agencies to contribute to the process.

Here's a breakdown of the topics scheduled for discussion:

Launders Lane (Arnold's Field)

The sub-committee is scheduled to discuss the Cabinet report on Launders Lane (Arnold's Field), Rainham, RM13 9FL, focusing on the history of the site, investigations into fires occurring there, and potential options to prevent future fires.

The report acknowledges concerns from residents regarding the impact of the fires and smoke on their health and quality of life. It recognises that the recurrent fires have an impact on the physical and mental health of local residents.

Background

Arnold's Field is a privately owned site that was formerly a legal landfill in the 1960s and 70s. Between 2002 and 2014, the site was subject to illegal activities, including fly-tipping¹, firearms storage and drug cultivation. The illegal waste dumping, combined with the site not being managed as an authorised landfill, is considered the root cause of the ongoing fires and smoke. Visible fires became a significant annual occurrence from the summer of 2019.

From 2004 to 2018, enforcement action was taken by the council, the Environment Agency and the Metropolitan Police, including Planning Enforcement and Stop Notices. Further enforcement action was taken in 2024 with the serving of an Abatement Notice² and a Community Protection Warning on the current landowner.

Between 2022 and 2025, the council carried out air quality monitoring, commissioned an intrusive soil investigation, arranged testing of the watercourse, sampled for asbestos in the air, and analysed health impact data.

Following a judicial review ruling in June 2025, the council is in the process of making a new decision on whether the site should be determined as Contaminated Land under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Council Action

The council has worked with partner agencies and taken action to address the problem, including:

• Air quality monitoring
• Investigating and testing the soil, ground gases and ground water
• Initiating the testing of the watercourse
• Investigating and testing for asbestos in the air
• Requesting, compiling and analysing health impact data
• Liaising with the landowner and fire brigade to minimise the impact of fires
• Liaising with residents to hear their concerns, share findings and inform further action

The council commissioned Imperial College Environmental Research Group (Imperial-ERG) and the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to conduct air quality monitoring. Imperial-ERG's assessment concluded that there was no observable difference between the levels detected at monitoring around Arnold's Field and the immediate wider area, or across London, and that there was no evidence that any UK limits were being broken. TRL's assessment concluded that, based on annual averages, there are no exceedances of UK or World Health Organisation (WHO) thresholds.

In 2023, an intrusive investigation of the soil identified the presence of volatile organic compounds³, methane and other gases. The report recommended that the site be secured to prevent unauthorised access and that the site be capped so as to prevent fires by starving any combustible material of oxygen underground.

In 2024, an airborne asbestos study around Spring Farm Park and along the New Road did not detect any asbestos fibres within the samples collected.

The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) analysed the rates of three cancer types potentially associated with exposure to air pollution, as well as mesothelioma⁴. The NDRS reported that cancer rates around Arnold's Field were not statistically different from the rest of the borough.

A study on the Acute Respiratory Health Impacts of Fires around the Site found that there was a statistically significant increase in the number of patients with pre-existing long-term respiratory conditions attending the GP surgery on the day of a fire attended by the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

Contaminated Land

The council is reassessing the relevant information and finalising materials in order to make a new Part 2A decision under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The report states that:

It will be the responsibility of the landowner to decide on and implement the necessary lawful, suitable and effective measures to resolve the situation within the required reasonable timescale.

Statutory Nuisance and Community Protection

In April 2024, the council issued a Statutory Nuisance Abatement Notice and a Community Protection Warning (CPW) to the current landowner. The Abatement Notice was subsequently withdrawn, and a requirement was made that the landowner submit clear actions to stop the fires.

Planning

The landowner has engaged with the Local Planning Authority through seeking pre-application advice to develop the site as a depot. The landowner maintains that the only feasible means by which action could be taken to stop the fires at the site is through a grant of planning permission for development of the Site on a commercial basis to provide a plant hire depot.

Approach to Rectifying the Situation

The council's approach to rectifying the situation began in 2022 and has broadly been in two phases:

• Phase 1: Understanding Causes & Impacts
• Phase 2: Identifying/Pursuing Solutions to Stop the Fires

The report concludes that preventing the passage of oxygen from above ground to below ground is the most practical approach to inhibiting future combustion.

Next Steps

Once all available technical information has been collated and assessed, officers will make a decision on whether the site meets the thresholds for determination as Contaminated Land within the meaning of Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The report notes that the landowner's primary preference is to pursue redevelopment of the site, but a full planning application has not yet been submitted.

Costs

Since 2022, the council has incurred direct costs of around £280,000. For 2025/26, initial costs of up to around £200,000 are currently expected.

The report also notes that if the landowner does not take the necessary steps to comply with remediation or abatement notices, the council could exercise its powers to carry out works in default , which could cost between £4-10 million for a permanent solution or £300-500,000 for a temporary solution.

Project Management

The council's activity in relation to responding to the issues at Arnold's Field could be described as being at the discovery stage.

Since 2022, the council has developed arrangements for engaging and communicating with both residents and a variety of key stakeholders, including public meetings, meetings with the local community grouping (Residents Against Pollution – RAP), and a newsletter.

Risks and Issues

The risks to the council are reputational, legal and financial. The reputational risk continues to be significant due to media coverage. The legal risk includes the likelihood of a legal challenge. The financial risk is substantial, particularly if the landowner refuses or fails to carry out the necessary remedial works.

Apologies for Absence and Announcement of Substitute Members

The sub-committee will receive any apologies for absence and announcement of substitute members.

Disclosure of Interests

Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda.

Chairman's Announcements

Councillor David Taylor, Chair of the Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee, will announce details of the arrangements in case of fire or other events that might require the meeting room or building's evacuation.