Health fears are mounting over contamination at Arnold's Field, Launders Lane, after the site was formally declared contaminated land
in October 2025. The Havering Council Cabinet met on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, to discuss the ongoing issues, which have led to frequent fires and smoke pollution.
The fires and smoke pollution are caused by the combustion of waste, both on the surface and subsurface of the land. This waste was illegally dumped onto the site between approximately 2010/11 and 2014/15 and includes hazardous and non-inert material. Prior to this illegal dumping, the site was a former legal landfill in the 1960s/70s. Between circa 2002/03 and 2009/10, excess material was deposited onto the site in breach of planning permission.
A Remediation Notice is now being prepared to be served on the appropriate persons
responsible for the contamination, requiring them to address the smoke pollution stemming from fires caused by the combustion of waste on the site. These appropriate persons
include Class A
individuals, such as the previous landowner at the time of the illegal dumping and three others previously convicted of depositing waste illegally. If a Class A
person cannot be identified, the current landowner, who purchased the site via auction in 2017 and approached the Council in 2018 regarding redevelopment, would be served as a Class B
person.
Failure to comply with the Remediation Notice could result in fines or the Council undertaking works in default
using its step in
powers, with an estimated cost of up to £200,000. Councillor Keith Prince, Leader of the Council, explained that while efforts are being made to expedite the process, legal proceedings could mean that works in default
might not occur for another two to three years, potentially leading to continued fires and harm to health. The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Place and the Strategic Director for Resources to exercise these step in
powers and utilise Council funds if necessary. This decision is detailed in the Decisions 12th Aug 2026 Cabinet document.
The smoke pollution from Arnold's Field is causing significant harm to the health of local residents. Specifically, monitoring has indicated elevated levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) and NO2. There is a significant risk of harm to human health due to the smoke, with fires linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, such as heart attack and stroke. A temporal association has also been noted between fires and increased GP attendances for pre-existing respiratory conditions. Furthermore, ongoing concern about the fires with no end in sight is expected to negatively impact the mental wellbeing of residents.
To mitigate immediate health risks while remediation is pending, air quality is being monitored around the site by establishing a ring
of nodes, primarily towards residential areas, with data accessible to the public. Specific air pollution monitoring for PAHs, PCBs, VOCs, and metals has also been commissioned.
The Council is lobbying the government for legislative improvements to facilitate swifter pragmatic action by authorities to address similar sites in the future. They are also seeking financial support from the Environment Agency, DEFRA, and the GLA. Further details on the history of the site, previous remediation attempts, and lobbying efforts can be found in the Public reports pack 12th Aug 2026 Cabinet.
The Agenda frontsheet 12th Aug 2026 Cabinet provides the agenda for the meeting where these issues were discussed.
