DEVELOPERS have stressed that contaminants found on a Dunfermline building site are "low-level" and the results of necessary testing has been submitted to Fife Council.

As reported in the Press recently, residents living near the site of the former Magnet showroom in Grieve Street had expressed concern that work was ongoing at the development despite asbestos, arsenic and lead contamination being found.

Planning permission to build homes was granted earlier this year with conditions to be met before any work was carried out. One stipulated an environmental survey should be carried out but information provided by Kirkcaldy-based developers James Property Ltd so far has been deemed insufficient.

However, the company insisted this week that chemical testing and analysis of the soils had been completed and reported to Fife Council and said "limited and localised" soil contaminants had been identified and assessed in accordance to industry standard practice.

A spokesperson for the appointed engineering design team explained: "Low-level Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) were identified within two of the 30 sample locations within the shallow made ground soils. To put this into perspective, the percentage of ACMs within the soils has been quantified by laboratory analysis as 0.026 per cent or less, by volume.

"The contaminants identified are considered to be low-level and typical of those associated with the development of brownfield sites.

"Any low-level risks which may be associated with the development of the site may be appropriately managed through the use of mitigation measures as outlined within the report submitted to Fife Council. This includes PPE standard to modern construction sites. Such measures are employed, as minimum standards, by James Properties Ltd.

"The development of the site is considered to represent an environmental improvement to pre-development conditions in line with Fife Council guidance on the development of brownfield sites."

Derek Simpson, Fife Council planning lead officer, said they were currently reviewing the contaminated land investigation reports submitted by James Property Ltd.

"We have visited the site and no works were taking place at the time of the visit," he said. "The applicant has confirmed that they have stopped work on site and that they will not begin again until the planning condition relating to contaminated land has been formally discharged."