Soil contamination and historic wells discovered at former York City ground

Investigations at the former York City ground have found soil contamination and uncovered two historic wells.

Environmental experts have been assessing Bootham Crescent prior to its handover to Persimmon Homes. Developers will soon begin the process to demolish the stadium and build 97 homes on the site.

They found sporadic evidence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the soil – a compound which is potentially damaging to human health.

These were found below the football pitch, beneath the car park and within the embankment to the rear of the north stand.

The report says: “The samples from below the car park and the embankment to the rear of the north stand could be representative of coal tar mixtures (coal tar is carcinogenic).

“The most likely source for the samples from the car park are considered to be the Tarmac surfacing. The profiles for the PAHs below the football pitch were considered less likely to be representative of coal tar mixtures.”

Unexploded bomb risk

To make the area safe for housing, gardens and areas of public space, the report recommends a “clean cover system”.

This “involves the placement of a thickness of soil (usually a minimum of 600mm) that has been chemically validated to be clean on top of the existing surface or following excavation and removal of soils”.

The report also reveals that two historic wells have been identified at the site.

“The location of two historic water wells have been identified from the historic mapping within the north eastern and south eastern corners of the site relating to when the site was formerly a cricket ground,” it says.

“An attempt will be made to locate the wells and make them safe.”

Experts also say the site has a ‘high risk rating’ for unexploded Second World War bombs.

They recommend “risk mitigation measures to reduce risk levels to as low as reasonably practicable during intrusive works in all previously undisturbed ground”.