Local authority contaminated land officers and environmental health officers have told DEFRA it has substantially failed to meet its own objectives for reforming statutory guidance on the contaminated land regime.
A survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health asked CLOs and EHOs in England and Wales whether DEFRA's eight objectives for reform had been met.
A strong response from 136 officers in 90 local authorities shows DEFRA has failed to convince people it is even meeting its own objectives.
Respondents were asked to rank all eight objectives as "met" or "not met" and, overall, only 6% were rated as met, 72% were rated not met and, in the remainder of cases, the respondents were undecided.
No respondent believed DEFRA had met either of its first two objectives - simpler/clearer guidance and more outcome-focused guidance.
Only one respondent thought the new guidance would achieve Objective 7 - more consistency.
DEFRA scored best with Objective 4 - reduced regulatory burdens for business - but still only 17% of respondents agreed.
Objective 8 - more accountability - achieved the most "don't knows".
