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Online local searches and environmental searches

I introduce Search24 to you. They provide on line local authority searches reporting, planning permission reports, environmental reports, water and drainage and other conveyancing reports fast.

Normally the lengthy time spent on searches extends an already slow buying process. With this online service you can reduce the time between offer and completion on your property purchase or sale.

What types of reports are available?

Click the links above to get a more detailed breakdown of each type of report. If you have any questions about reports, take a look at our Report FAQ section below.

Local Search FAQ

Here are a selection of the most frequently asked questions relating to search24 reports

Q - How do I get information on future Planning Permissions on a property or piece of land I want to buy?

A - We would recommend buying a Plansearch Residential or commercial report as it addresses this by providing information for the property on:

  • Applications made for planning consent over the last 5 years, covering the usual life span of applications, within 250m of the property.
  • Development plans produced as a statutory requirement by local authorities within 500m of the property.
  • Indicative floodplain information.

Q - Why should I get an environmental search carried out?

A - The government's commitment to build 2.5 million homes on brown field sites will dramatically increase the risk of homes suffering from subsidence, methane, polluted land and similar environmental defects - all of which are covered by the environmental reports.

Research has identified over 250,000 sites that have been filled in and in many cases built over. There are 400,000 past industrial sites that have the potential to be contaminated land. Records exist of over 25,000 current landfill or waste sites and some 40,000 contaminating/polluting processes, discharges and storage of hazardous substances - all potentially concerning a possible buyer. If the original polluter cannot be found (unlikely!) then the homeowner may be liable for the clean up costs or in the worse case scenario, impossible to sell on.

Q - How do I get an Environmental Report done on my property?

A - It is simple, XXXclick hereXXX, fill out the form with the address and postcode of the property in question and fill your details also to email the report to or to contact you in the case of any questions we may have.

Q - What is the difference between a residential and commercial environmental reports?

A - Essentially it comes down to levels of detail. More analysis is required for commercial buys. Envirosearch Commercial is a cost-effective site-screening tool for commercial sites. It is available for any site or property in Great Britain and provides high quality, reliable information in the shortest possible time. It can also be used by legal professionals for environmental due diligence in low risk commercial property transactions.

Both reports use data on 'source-pathway-receptor' linkages within 250m of a subject site's boundary and includes a large-scale Ordnance Survey location map and a neighbourhood context map, together with detailed information examining Current Land Use, Historical Land Use and Sensitivity. A Useful Contacts section is provided to assist with subsequent enquiries.

Q - What is an uninterpreted (Envirosearch report)

A - Key benefits of Envirosearch Commercial:

  • Comprehensive - site history information is available for the whole of mainland Britain
  • Accurate - site-specific data showing the location of potential risks in relation to the site
  • Reliable - quality controlled environmental data
  • Quick - despatched within 72 hours
  • Easy - simply identify the site and we do the rest!
  • Economical - only �75 for sites up to 15 hectares
  • Flexible - available digitally as a .PDF file or as a printed report (bound or unbound)
  • Service - free User Guide plus a helpdesk for full practitioner support

Applications of Envirosearch Commercial:

  • Screening potential development sites or commercial property purchases
  • Portfolio assessments to prioritise properties for further review
  • Environmental due diligence in low risk commercial property transactions

Envirosearch Commercial is organised into the following eight sections:

  • Location Maps - Confirms the site boundary and indicates the area covered by the report
  • Information and Flood Maps - The features identified within the report are plotted on an Information Map. A Flood Map shows areas that may be subject to flooding.
  • Summary - Comprises source, pathway and receptor information relating to the site and a summary table of the information found on site and in its vicinity.
  • Current Land Use - Map and description of potentially contaminative current land uses.
  • Historical Land Use - Map and description of potentially contaminative historical land uses.
  • Sensitivity - Details of pathway and receptor features including Map ID, direction and contact
  • Other Factors - Information on other factors which may affect the site.
  • Useful Contacts - Addresses and contact telephone numbers of the main agencies who supplied the data in the report

What is an interpreted (Sitecheck) report?

Sitecheck is a detailed environmental search for commercial properties that provides commercial conveyancers and property professionals with essential environmental risk information. It includes the professional opinion of a Chartered Environmental Surveyor that comments on the impact of land contamination on property value.

Available for any site or property in mainland Great Britain, Sitecheck identifies potentially contaminative sites, within 500m of the site boundary, using high quality, accurate data from reliable sources.

The report includes a large scale Ordnance Survey location map and neighbourhood context map, together with detailed information and individual maps examining Current Land Use, Historical Land Use and Sensitivity. A Useful Contacts section is provided to assist with subsequent enquiries.

Q - What is a development plan tracker?

A - The Development Plan Tracker provides information regarding the life cycle of current and emerging development plans relevant to the area of search which have been published by Local Authorities, County Councils and Park Authorities. There are a variety of different types of plans including; Structure, Local, Unitary, National Park, Regional Park, Mineral, Waste & Mineral and Waste Plans.

The information provided details the development plan title, type, status, stage(s) completed with dates and relevant comments. The process of adopting a plan is dynamic, and at times lengthy. For those plans that are currently being prepared, the relevant stages in each plans preparation are recorded.

Q - What are Land Use Policies?

A - This section of the report provides a summary of the policies for future development and land use within the area. A description of the plan from which the information was derived (including title, status and date published) is provided. To ensure consistency and ease of use, development categories have been standardised across Great Britain resulting in a nation-wide classification system.

Q - What flood information do I get on plansearch?

A - Using the Environment Agency's assessment for England and Wales, Plansearch is able to identify whether the subject property or surrounding area is in a Indicative River floodplain or Indicative Coastal floodplain. If a floodplain is present it will be shown on the floodplain map, however, it does not show the influences of defences.

Other local searches and reports

Search24 can also provide mousers with additional search reports in a variety of different areas. When buying a property or land you or your solicitor may require additional information from various authorities, utilities and other companies or require aerial pictures of the land for reference or record.

They can provide you with :

  • Coal Authority reports
  • Tin and Clay reports
  • Company search reports
  • Historical Map/aerial photographs
  • Water & Drainage reports

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